
Qass. 
Book. 



/ 



The IGarly History of Tolland. 



AN ADDEESS, 



DELIVERED BEFORE THE 



Mumv 



AT TOLLAND, CONN., 



On the M day of August auri 2)th day of September, 



By LORP]N P. WALDO, 

PEESIDENT OF SAID SOCIETY. 



18r>7 % 

HARTFORD: 

PRESS OF CASE, LOCKWOOD & COMPANY. 

1861. 



\~ \ o A- 



NOTICE. 



When I first commenced the preparation of the following pages, I 
only expected to write an address that might have occupied an hour 
in its reading before the Historical Society for whom I was preparing 
it ; but I soon found the subject too extensive and interesting to be 
thus summarily disposed of. I accordingly enlarged my original plan 
somewhat, and aUhough my time was too limited to exhaust the sev- 
eral topics touched upon, yet I can not but believe that enough has 
been done to render the numerous facts 1 have recorded worthy of 
preservation, so that they may become available to him who shall 
undertake to complete what I have but imperfectly begun. Most of 
the address was read before the Tolland County Historical Society, at 
two meetings convened for that purpose, and such was. the interest 
manifested in the subject that very many expressed a strong desire to 
see the address in print. A proposition was made to have it published 
in numbers in the Tolland County Record, and I assented to an ar- 
rangement by which I supposed this would be carried into effect. I 
therefore set about revising the address and preparing it for publica- 
tion, in doing which I availed myself of the kindness and assistance 
of my friend, Sidney Stanley, Esq., who has carefully compared the 
principal facts with records and his own memoranda, collected by 
the labor of years. And I would, in this place, acknowledge my 
obligations to him for his valuable aid in collecting and collating very 
much of the material contained in these pages. 

Having finished the revision of the address, and the paper in whose 
columns it was designed to appear having suspended, I have by the 



^y NOTICE 



advice of some of my friends, venturod to ,,rint it in a pamphlet form, 
at my own expense, tru.tin, that .on,e of the sons of Tolland whose 
history I have endeavored to perpetuate, will be willing to contnbute 
.omethin^ towards the expenses of publication, by buying copies for 
their own use. To them 1 cheerfully submit the work, and whatever 
of merit or demerit it may contain, I have some hope it will, at least, 
be the means of rescuing some incidents from oblivion that might 
otherwise have been forever lost; and if it shall awaken any interest 
in the subject of local history, I shall be fully compensated for the 
labor I have expended. 

Dated at Tolland, this 10th day of December, 1861. 

LOREN P. WALDO. 



ADDEESS. 



Gentlemen of the Tolland County Historical Society, 
AND Fellow Citizens : 

My present purpose is to speak of the early history of the 
town of Tolland, and to gather up and preserve some me- 
mentos of the persons who first peopled its territory. The 
feeling that prompts to this duty is a sacred one and should 
be cherished ; for while we are ruminating among the tombs 
of our ancestors and gathering relics of departed worth, we 
can not fail to be deeply impressed with the thought that the 
footsteps of time are fast effacing the most prominent trans- 
actions and will soon obliterate the last trace of all things 
earthly. We should most instinctively love to cultivate the 
remembrance of past events ; to let our affections cluster 
around the memories of those departed ones whose stations 
we occupy ; and to look forward with fervent hope to that 
period in our own existence when kindred spirits will com- 
mingle in one promiscuous throng. In these exercises we 
may learn wisdom from the experience of the illustrious 
dead ; may profit by their spotless examples ; may be encour- 
aged to imitate their never-dying virtues ; — and to follow 
more cheerfully in their shining track through life's stormy 
mazes to the haven of immortal happiness and peace. 

In looking back through the long vista of years since this 
town was first known, we can discover no incident of thrill- 
ing interest connected with its history. We can pomt to no 
spot where the white and the red man have met in mortal 
combat ; nor where hostile armies have sought for vengeance 



4 THE KAHLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

in the bloody encounter. We do not know that the barbarian 
war-fire lias ever shone upon these hills ; or that the savage 
war-whoop was ever heard in these valleys. We have no 
legend of the Indian's stealthy tread — of his merciless attack 
upon the innocent and defenceless ; or of our soil ever reek- 
ing with human blood. Xor can we find the footsteps of any 
distinguished })ersonage upon its territory who has attracted 
the gaze of the world by his deeds of daring or acts of self- 
devotion. The history of Tolland, in short, is not calculatetl 
to interest the marvelous, nor produce wonder and astonish- 
ment in the reflecting ; but like a gentle current, bears upon 
its quiet bosom facts worthy of our notice, and wliich may 
afford us both instruction and amusement. 

The territory now called Tolland, prior to the year 1700, 
formed a part of the vast wilderness that covered the western 
continent before the track of civilization ever visited these 
shores, and was inhabited only by wild beasts or wilder men. 
The town of Mansfield was settled about this period, and as 
the inhabitants of that town had some connection with the 
people of Windsor it is probable that in their intercourse th^ 
hills of Tolland first attracted their notice. This town was 
originally a part of the township of Windsor, and the earliest 
records to be found in the town are copies of the transactions 
of the town of Windsor in relatign to the lands included in 
the town of Tolland. The earliest of these records I have 
been able to find is under date of April 18th, 1713, at which 
time a committee was appointed " to lay out a settlement 
upon the east side of Windsor upon lands formerly purchased 
of the Indians." This committee performed the duties 
assigned them and made a report of their doings commencing 
in these words : 

"A chronicle of the acts of the committee empowered by 
the town of Windsor to lay out a plantation from the east 
side of AVindsor upon lands formerly purchased of the In- 
dians, April 18, 1713. The committee went upon the land to 
be laid^ut, and laid out and bounded highways and several 
lots as foUoweth. A highway of twenty rods in breadth, and 
running due north upon the hill called the meeting-house 
hill, between the first furlong of lots on the said hill on the 



THE EARLY HISTORY OP TOLLAND. 5 

east side of the highway and the second furlong of lots on 
west side of the highway ; and is marked out by several 
marked trees, and stakes and heaps of stones, and goes the 
same breadth and point of compass until it pass the brook 
that runs up out of Cedar Swamp." 

Then follows a record of seventeen lots of land containing 
forty acres each, laid out on each side of this higliAvay, — 
eight of them being on the east side of the highway, bound- 
ing west upon it, and nine lots being on the west side of the 
same, bounding east upon it. These lots were each forty 
rods in width and one hundred and sixty rods in length, being 
forty rods upon the highway and extending one hundred and 
sixty rods in rear from the same. One of the lots on the east 
side of the highway is bounded north on the brook, which is 
no doubt the stream that runs up out of Cedar Swamp. The 
lots on the east side were numbered from one to eight inclu- 
sive, and were granted by the committee to Samuel Pinney, 
Jr., Hezekiah Porter, Sergt. Henry Wolcott, Joseph Porter, 
Nathan Gillett, and Samuel Forward. Those on the west 
v^side were numbered from one to nine inclusive, and were 
granted to Enoch Loomis, Cornelius Birge, Simon Wolcott, 
Jr., Joshua Loomis, Sergt. Henry Wolcott, Noah Grant, 
Joseph Rockwell, Jr., Thomas Grant, and Josiah Rockwell. 
The first and sixth lots on the cast side of the highway do 
not appear to have been assigned to any one. 

It has been a matter of some inquiry where this first high- 
way was located, for it is evident that its location was intended 
to establish the center of the new town. From the record 
we learn that it Avas " twenty rods in breadth," and ran "due 
north upon the hill called meeting-house hill, between the 
first furlong of lots on the said hill on the east side of the 
highway, and the second furlong of lots on the west side of 
the highway," and that it goes the same breadth and point of 
" compass until it pass the brook that runs up out of Cedar 
Swamp." Here we have the point of compass — " due north," 
—the width of the road—" twenty rods,"— the name of the 
hill where located—" meeting-house hill,"— and its northern 
terminus — " the brook that runs up out of Cedar Swamp." 
Now is there any locality that will answer this description 'i 



b THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

Some persons have supposed that the village of Tolland is 
located on this highway. The street, they say, runs nearly 
north and south, sufficiently to answer the description " due 
north;'' tliat it is, or was before trespassed upon and shorn 
of its primeval capaciousness, nearly of the requisite width ; 
that it is the only eminence in town that can be justly called 
meeting-house hill, for no other hill was ever honored witli 
an edifice of this character, and the stream of water north of 
the village, known as "' Spencer brook," is the brook that was 
described as running up out of Cedar Swamp. But a little 
attention will satisfy the casual observer that the present 
village coidd not have been the locality described in this 
record. For the course of the street is not '■'■due north,'' but 
several degrees to the west of north, and before we come to 
Spencer brook it is north-east. Nor was the street ever 
twenty rods wide, during its whole length, nor is there any 
evidence that it was ever called " meeting-house hill." It 
must be borne in mind that this record was made April 18, 
1713, more than two years before the charter of the town 
was granted, and l)eforc its locality or extent could be known. 
The town of Coventry was incorporated in 1711, but its 
northern boundary was not then established, as we shall here- 
after have occasion to see ; and hence the proper place for 
the center of the contemplated new township must of neces- 
sity then have been a matter of speculation. It is true, our 
ancestors iri locating a township first sought for an eligible 
location for a meeting-house, and an indispensable requisite 
for such location was high land. True to these instincts, the 
committee that located the first road in Tolland, and laid ofl' 
the first lots to settlers, commenced upon the highest ground 
that then was supposed to be nearest the center of the con- 
templated town. As I have already said, the north line of 
the town of Coventry was then unknown, but was then and 
for many years thereafter claimed by the Windsor men to be 
one mile further south than it was finally found to be. There 
can therefore be no doubt that the first location of highways 
and lots in Tolland was made upon Grant's hill, and not 
upon the hill where the village is now located. This locality 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 7 

answers the description in the record. The course of the 
road now on Grant's hill is generally north and south, and it 
crosses the brook that runs up out of Cedar Swamp, and the 
only such brook in Tolland. The name " meeting house 
hill," was doubtless given to it because it was intended for 
the center of the new town, which could not even be regarded 
as a town without containing a meeting-house. But we are 
able to make this thing certain l)y the following facts which 
are conclusive upon this point. The record before spoken of 
shows that several lots of forty acres eacli were, by the com- 
mittee who laid out this road, located on each side of it, and 
were granted to particular individuals. The survey of one 
of those lots is in these words, copied from the record afore- 
said : — 

The seventh lot is by the committee bounded east ]>y the 
" highway ; south on the sixth lot ; west on undivided lands ; 
north on the eighth lot ; and containing forty acres, being in 
breadth forty rods north and south, and runs from the street 
one hundred and sixty rods west. This lot is by the com- 
mittee granted to Joseph Rockwell, Jun." 

The sixth lot described in this record was by this commit- 
tee granted to Noah Grant, and the eighth to Thomas Grant. 

On the first book of records of lands of the town of Tolland, 
at page seventy-nine, I find a record of a deed of land from 
Joseph Rockwell of Windsor, in the county of Hartford, to 
John Abbott, of Andover, in the county of Essex and com- 
monwealth of Massachusetts, blacksmith ; dated March 14, 
1719-20, which land in said deed is described as follows : 

" My dwelling house and house lot in the township of Tol- 
land, said lot containing forty acres, being forty rods in 
breadth, and one hundred and threescore rods in length, be 
it more or less, butting and bounding west upon my own 
land lately set out to me by the committee of the town of 
Tolland in our first division of land, together with all the 
divisions of lands appertaining to or belonging to said home- 
lot, of forty acres, bounding easterly on the town highway, 
and south on the home-lot of Noah Grant, and north by lands 
firstly belonging to Thomas Grant, Jun., of Windsor, but 
now in possession of Nathaniel Wallis." 

John Abbott the first was the great grandfather of Mrs. 
Sally Bliss, the wife and afterwards the widow of John Bliss, 



8 THE EARLf HISTORY OP TOLLAND. 

Esq., late of Tolland, deceased. It is a traditionary fact in 
the family of ]\[r. Abbott, who is now lineally represented in 
Tolland in the person of Mrs. Lucius S. Fuller, that he came 
from Andover, Essex county, Mass., to the town of Tolland 
in 1720 ; that he bought lands of Joseph Rockwell of Wind- 
sor, that he lived in Tolland from 1720 to the day of his 
death, Nov. 25, 1770, then in the eighty-fifth year of his age; 
and that he owned the farm and lived in the house lately 
owned and occupied by Alfred Young, now in the possession 
and occupancy of James A. Brown, situated on Grant's hill. 
It follows that the place now occupied by Mr. James A. BroAvn 
was the place where John Abbott lived and died ; was by him 
purchased of Joseph Rockwell, to whom the same was granted 
by the committee who located the first road in Tolland on 
meeting-house hill, and that this place is bounded easterly on 
that road. The meeting-house hill, named in the first record 
in Tolland, is now Grant's hill. 

This committee made other locations and allotments of lands 
on the 3d day of March, and 6th day of April, 171-1^ which 
were also duly recorded, — a copy of this record was taken from 
the records of Windsor, August 6, 1711), certified by the com- 
mittee, Matthew Allyn, Roger Wolcott, and Timothy Thrall, 
and was recorded in the records of lands in the town of 
Tolland, November li), 1719. The entry in Tolland records 
is certified as follows : " November 19, 1719. I, Joseph 
Benton, received the foregoing record and accordingly it was 
recorded by me. Joseph Benton, town clerk." 

The first movement towards an act of incorporation for the 
town was made in the year 1718. The earliest record is 
under date of May 9, 1713, and is in the words and figures fol- 
lowing, viz. : 

" To the Honorable llie General Assembly in Hartford, May 
14, 1713. 

The petition of us the subscribers humbly showeth : That 
whereas your petitioners being inhabitants of this colony, 
and the descendants of those that have for a long time con- 
tributed to the support of the same, being through the 
numerous increase of our families much straitened for want 
of land whereon to make improvement and get our liveliliood : 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 



9 



and being encouraged by your honors' wonted goodness to 
encourage the settling of plantations in the waste lands 
within the colony, and having viewed a township of land on 
tlie east side of the great river, ordered by the town of Wind- 
sor and the heirs of Mr. Thomas Burnham, deceased, to be 
settled into a plantation bounded as in their agreement doth 
fully appear ; — many of us having already been out with the 
committee and taken up lots in the same, and shall with those 
that are desirous to settle with us, speedily settle a fair town 
there if the government discourage us not; we therefore 
luimbly pray your honors would grant that a township may 
be made of said land, and that they may be patented to and 
holden by such inhabitants as shall be admitted by the com- 
mittee appointed by the town of Windsor, and heirs of Mr. 
Thomas Burnham, deceased, and your petitioners shall ever 
pray." Dated, May 9, 1713. 

This petition is signed by the following persons, viz. : 



Baker, Joseph 
Barber, Benjamin 
Birge, Cornelius 
Bissell, Josiah 
Chapman, Henry 
Chapman, Simon 
Cook, Nathaniel 
Cook, Ebenezer 
Cook, Daniel 
Drake, Nathaniel 
Eno, John 
Ellsworth, Samuel 
Edgar, Thomas 
Pjggleston, Thomas 
Farnsworth, Joseph 
Gillctr, Cornelius 
Gaylord, Jonas 
{Jriswold, Daniel, Jr. 
Gillett, Nathaniel, Jr. 
Griswold, Thomas 



Grant, Samuel 
Grant, Noah 
Grant, Nathaniel 
Gridley, John 
Hoskins, Anthony 
Holcomb, Benaiah 
Huntington, John 
Loomer, H. 
Loomis, Stephen 
Loomis, Ichabod « 
Loomis, David 
Loomis, Joshua 
Marshall, Samuel 
Mills, Jedidiah 
Phelps, Joseph 
Phelps, William 
Pinney, Humphrey 
Pinney, Jonathan 
Pinney, Nathaniel 
Porter, Daniel 



Porter, Nathaniel 
Porter, Joseph 
Rockwell, Joseph 
Rockwell, Samuel 
Stiles, Thomas 
Stiles, Henry, Jr. 
Skinner, Joseph 
Stoughton, Israel 
Smith, Philip 
Wolcott, Roger 
Watson, Nathaniel 
Wolcott, Charles 
Wolcott, Henry 
Willes, Joshua, Sen. 
Willes, John 
Willes, Joshua 
Willes Samuel 
Warren, Robert 
Loomis, Daniel. 
59 in all. 



The next movement was at the General Assembly in May, 
1715, when tlie following petition was presented : 

" To the Honorable the General Assembly sitting at Hart- 
ford, May 12, 1715 : The petition of the town of Windsor 
humbly showeth : — That your petitioners did in the year 1636, 
purchase of the Indians certain lands on the east side of 
Windsor : and since the town has immeasurably increased 
and many inhabitants forced to seek after new settlements, 
and the town did in conjunction with the heirs of Mr. Thomas 
Burnham release their claims to said lands unto siich sober 
inhabitants as should orderly settle on the same, paying only 
the prime cost ; and tlierefore several sober and religious 

2 



10 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

persons viewing tlic same, are very desirous to settle the same, 
and several families are already there, giving a fair prospect 
of a likely town — if this Honorable Assembly would gra- 
ciously grant a town there, and the land to be holden by such 
as shall orderly settle on the same : Avhich we pray this Hon- 
orable Assembly Avoiild graciously do ; and we beg leave fur- 
ther to move thcni thereto by the following considerations: 

1. The Assembly hath liitlierto done the like on like occa- 
sions, and it hath been found the best way to settle the 
country quietly; — 

2. Our purcliase was improved before his Majesty for obtain- 
ing the colony patent, and he by it moved thereby to grant 
the lands to the colony : — Therefore we pressing the' same 
arguments to the Assembly, hope to fuid the same favor ; — 

o. It is most reasonable the ancient inhabitants who have 
supported the colony should by the government be allowed 
to settle the lands before strangers and without paying exces- 
sive prices to all pretenders, which liath led us into all imag- 
inable confusion already. 

And your petitioners shall ever pray." 

"At a town meeting in Windsor, March 21, 1714-15 — It 
was voted : that the above written petition should be prefer- 
red to the General Assembly in May with their desire it may 
be granted. Test, John Moore, Register. " 

This petition is now on file in the archives of the state at 
Hartford, and at the Assembly in May, 1715, the following 
resolution was passed. 

"And it is further resolved by this Assembly upon the peti- 
tion of Windsor men tliatr they shall, after the regulation of 
Coventry according to the foregoing act of this Assembly, 
have a township of six miles square laid out to them which 
shall be called Tolland, bounded on the south with Coventry, 
and east with Willimantic river ; and in case the claimers 
mentioned in the preceding act shall pay in proportion to 
what is in the said act settled with respect to Coventry, and 
also by their inhabitants therein seated by Windsor committee 
as in the aforesaid act is provided for the like quantity of land, 
tlie said inhabitants settled by Windsor conunittee to pay all the 
charges of laying out and settling the said land, — that a quit- 
claim of this governments claim shall also be in like manner 
executed by tlie Governor and Secretary and delivered to the 
claimers, for the claim of this government for so much of the 
said township as shall fall within the bounds of the said 
claimers. And it is further resolved that a quitclaim of this 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND, 11 

governments right shall also be executed in like manner by 
the Governor and Secretary to Col. Matthew AUyn, and 
Roger Wolcott Esqr., Timothy Thrall and John Ellsworth all 
of Windsor, in trust for themselves and such others as shall 
by them be admitted to settle in said township, for all that 
part of said township that lieth ivithontthe bounds of said pro- 
prietors claims as aforesaid. Provided the said Allyn and 
others do pay to the public treasury of this colony for the 
said land in proportion to what is in this act before stated in 
respect of Coventry ; and it is further provided that none of 
the claims in the foregoing act shall be construed to oblige 
any of the aforesaid inhabitants seated on any of the said 
lands, who have procured the claims of the said propri- 
etors and have instruments under their hands to show for 
the same, and it is also to be understood and it is hereby 
resolved that the said proprietors if need be, shall give fur- 
ther and better assurance to the said inhabitants to whom the 
said proprietors have sold their claims and received the 
money for the same. Provided also, that the above men- 
tioned claimers do or shall well and truly pay or cause to be 
paid into the colony treasury the aforesaid sum or sums on 
or before the 15th day of May next, or else they shall not 
claim the benefit of this act, any thing herein contained to 
the contrary notwithstanding." 

By this resolution, the Windsor men became entitled to a 
township six miles square, to be bounded south on Coventry, 
and east on Willimantic river, and to be called Tolland. 
The fee of this territory was to be vested in Matthew Allyn, 
Roger Wolcott, Timothy Thrall and John Ellsworth in trust 
for themselves, and for such others as should by them be ad- 
mitted to settle in the township. These gentlemen, it will 
be perceived, were the committee who located the first high- 
way, and made the first allotments in Tolland, April 18, 1713. 
These trustees, on the 11th day of May, 1719, conveyed 
by deed of that date, the north part of Tolland to fifty-one 
persons named in said deed ; the portion of land conveyed in 
said deed was described as follows : — 

" Bounded south on a line east and west at the south end 
of Shenups pond, east on Willimantic river, and is to bo in 
length from Willimantic river west six miles, and in breadth 
is from said line drawn east and west at the south end of 
Shenups pond so far north as to make the six miles from 
Coventry north bounds." 



12 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 



The foUowiiiff are the names of the orantees in this deed 



Baker, 

Benton, Samuel, Sen. 
Benton, Samuel, Jun. 
Benton, Joseph, Sen. 
Benton, Joseph, Jun. 
Birge, Cornelius 
Bisscll, Ephraim's heir's 
Birge, Joseph 
Brace, Stcplien 
Cook, Daniel 
Coy, Samuel 
Chapman, Simon 
Caswell, Matthew- 
Drake, Joseph 
Ellis, Thoma.s 
Emmons, Peter 
Eaton, William 



Eaton, Daniel 

Ellsworth, Jonathan 
Ellsworth, John 
Forward, Samuel 
Gillett, Nathan 
Grant, Noah 
Grant, Nathaniel 
Hatch, Joseph 
Hinsdale, Barnabas 
Huntington, Cliristopher 
Huntington, John 
Loomis, Enoch 
Looniis, Moses 
Loomis, Joshua 
Nye, Ebcnezer 
Pinney, Samuel 
Peck, Joseph 



Paulk, Samuel 
Porter, Hezekiah 
Porter, Daniel 
Rockwell, Samuel 
Koyce, Joseph 
Rockwell, Joseph, Jun. 
Stearns, Shubael ^ 
Stoughton, Thomas 
Taylor, Nathaniel 
Tucker, Ephraim 
Utley, Samuel 
Wolcott, Henry 
Wolcptt, Simon 
Wallis, Nathaniel 
West, Samuel 
Willes, Joshua 
Whipple, Thomas. 



I can not find any record of the original title of the south- 
ern part of the town before the year 1718, of which I shall 
by and by speak. There can be no doubt it was, by some 
conveyance, vested in the committee who commenced making 
the allotments in April, 1713. The petition of the town of 
Windsor contains an allegation that the town did " in the 
year 1636 purchase of the Indians certain lands on the 
east side of Windsor," and " did in conjunction with the 
heirs of Mr. Thomas Burnham, release their claims to said 
lands unto such sober inhabitants as should orderly settle the 
same ; " which clearly evinces tlie fact that some portion of 
the territory contained in the proposed township had already 
been the subject of a conveyance. And the resolution of the 
General Assembly authorized the conveyance to Matthew 
AUyn and his associates only so much of the land that was 
within the six miles square " that lieth 'without the bounds of 
said proprietors claims as aforesaid.'''' It is therefore obvious 
that the title to the south part of Tolland was originally de- 
rived from the Indians, and it was the source of bitter con- 
troversies during the early settlement of the town. From 
what tribe of Indians this title was obtained, does not appear. 
Before the settlement at Windsor in 1633, the territory now 
embraced in the State of Connecticut was inhabited and 
probably owned by several small Indian tribes. But the 
boundaries between these tribes were never very well defined, 
and indeed, in some instances, different tribes claimed the 



tHE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND, 13 

same land, and the early settlers not unfreqiiently received 
deeds of the same land from different sachems or Indian 
chiefs. That portion of Connecticut situated east of Con- 
necticut river was inhabited and owned by the following 
Indian tribes, to wit : The Pequots, who were located be- 
tween the Niantic and Paucatuc rivers, and extending from 
the shore back into the country. The Mohegans, supposed 
to be a branch of the Pequots, whose principal town was 
between New London and Norwich, but whose territory ex- 
tended north into the southern part of Tolland county. The 
Nehantics of Lyme, and the Podunks of East Windsor and 
East Hartford.. The Nipmucs of Massachusetts had a few 
sparse settlements in the northern portion of Tolland and 
Windham counties. The town of Windsor, on the west side 
of the river, was subject to the Tunxis, a tribe that inhabited 
the valley of Farmington river. As I have said, it nowhere 
appears from which of these tribes the settlers at Windsor 
purchased lands on the east side of Windsor in 1636, for it 
is probable that the Mohegans, the Podunks, and the Nip- 
mucs might have each claimed the territory. Whatever may 
have been the claims of others, it is certain the Mohegans 
regarded a portion of the territory now included within the 
boundaries of Tolland as their own, and hence we find that 
one of their sachems named Joshua, as early as the year 
1675, undertook to dispose of it by tvill, — as by the following 
extract from the record of it will appear. 

" Item. I give and bequeath all that tract of land lying 
from the mountain in sight of Hartford northward to a pond 
called Shenups, east to Willimantic river, south by said river, 
west by Hartford bounds, (except three hundred acres already 
sold to Major John Talcott, and two hundred acres to Capt. 
Thomas Bull, and according to a draught or map drawn and 
subscribed with my own hand, bearing date with these pres- 
ents,) viz. : to Mr. James Richards, Mr. Samuel Wyllys, Capt. 
Thomas Bull, Mr. Joseph Haynes, Mr. Richard Lord, Major 
John Talcott, Mr. John Allyn, Mr. Ebenezer Way, Bartholo- 
mew Barrett, JSicholas Olmsted, Henry Hay ward, Mr. Joseph 
Fitch, Thomas Burnham, and William Pitkin, to be equally 
divided amongst them, into so many parts as there are per- 
sons, and also Nathaniel Willett to have an equal proportion 



14 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

amongst them. Dated at Pettiipaiig 29 Feb. 1675. Com- 
pared Feb. 8, 1686. John Allyn. Secry." 

This will describes that portion of the town of Tolland not 
included in the deed of Matthew Allyn and others, and is 
that part of the town where the first surveys were made by 
the proprietors' committee. I have no evidence that this 
tract of land was ever divided among the legatees according 
to the provisions of the will, and prol)ably it never was. The 
Thomas Burnham named in this will, was doubtless the 
Thomas Burnham whose heirs united with the town of Wind- 
sor in releasing their claims to the territory of Tolland " unto 
such sober inhabitants as should orderly settle the same," 
and hence the first settlers had whatever right was vested in 
Windsor by virtue of their purchase of the Indians in 1636, 
and also the right Thomas Burnham acquired under the will 
of Joshua. But the legatees of Joshua were dissatisfied with 
the action of the first settlers, and prosecuted them for tres- 
passing upon their rights. The settlers resisted this claim of 
the legatees, and made it one common cause, defraying all 
necessary expenses from the common treasury of the pro- 
prietors of the township. The first suit was commenced in 
April, 1724, by one Joseph Baker against one Shubael Stearns., 
In September, 1724, the proprietors, at a meeting held for 
that purpose, appointed Francis West, Daniel Eaton, and Shu- 
bael Stearns a committee to agree with the claimants, " with 
power to go to the General Court at New Haven." It ap- 
pears that this committee attended the General Court at New 
Haven, where a committee was appointed " to treat with the 
proprietors of Tolland." This controversy was of great im- 
portance to the proprietors, and no doubt very seriously 
affected the early settlement of the town. It extended to a 
very large portion of the land included in their charter and 
went to the validity of their title. After various conferences 
between the committee above named, the matter was finally 
compromised, and the General Assembly, at its session in 
October, 1724, passed an act that the proprietors of Tolland 
should pay to the legatees of Joshua at the rate of six pounds 
per allotment, or three shillings per acre for the land, and 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 15 

that the legatees shoiild release all their title to said lands. 
This action of the General Court was not acceptable to the 
legatees and they seemed unwilling thus to give up their 
claims ; — and as late as October, 1728, or four years after the 
decision of the General Court above-mentioned, other suits 
were commenced upon the same claims. The proprietors 
held a meeting, October 28,1678, and chose a committee con- 
sisting of Dea. Francis West, Capt. Hope Lathrop, Lieut. 
John Huntington, Sergeant Samuel Benton, and Sergeant 
Samuel Chapman, " to go to the legatees of Joshua and in 
the name and behalf of the proprietors to take a quitclaim 
deed of all their claims to the lands in Tolland." They also 
solemnly obligated themselves " to pay all such sums as said 
committee should be compelled to pay in the business of their 
office." Tliis committee promptly attended to the business 
assigned them, and in a few months obtained proper convey- 
ances from the legatees of Joshua which put an end to this 
expensive and important controversy. 

It is a matter of some doubt at what precise time the first 
settlement was made in Tolland. The opinion generally pre- 
vails that the first permanent settlement was in 1715, but I 
am satisfied it was at an earlier date. It is certain that roads 
were laid out, and allotments of lands made to individuals in 
April, 1713. Tradition informs us that the persons who exe- 
cuted this work provided themselves with a temporary home, 
under a large shelving rock, now situated on the west side of 
the highway, leading to Bolton, near the north bank of the 
brook that runs across the road this side of the present resi- 
dence of Alden B. Crandall. The walls of the dwelling, as 
well as the roof, being of stone, it received the name of Stoney 
house ; and this gave name to the brook that runs by it, which 
is in the early records of the town called Stoney house brook. 
While it is probable that the residence of persons at this place 
was temporary, yet there are several facts tending to show that 
permanent settlements were commenced in about 1713. The 
petition to the General Assembly for an act of incorporation, 
dated May 9,1713, alleges that many of the petitioners "have 
been out with the committee and have taken up lots in the same ; 



16 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

and shall with those that arc desirous to settle with us speedily 
settle a fair town there," &c. The petition of the town of 
Windsor for the same object, alleges " that several families are 
already there, giving a fair prospect of a likely town," &c. 
This petition is dated March 21, 1714-15. The resolution of 
the General Assembly under date of May, 1715, speaks of the 
inhabitants thereon seated by the Windsor committee ; — from 
all which it is evident there must have been settlements in 
Tolland before May, 1715. And further, in the records of the 
marriages, births and deaths in the town, we find the records of 
several births in Tolland, prior to May, 1715. The earliest of 
them is that of Amy Hatch, a daughter of Joseph Hatch, who 
was born October 10, 1713. Margaret Pack, a daughter of 
Joseph Pack, was born January 7, 1715 ; Joseph Hatch, son of 
Joseph Hatch before mentioned, and as tradition says the first 
male child born in Tolland, was born Sept. 12, 1715. Joseph 
Pack had land assigned him in the early allotments, and his 
name and that of Joseph Hatch arc among the earliest upon 
the records. From these facts I am confident the first settle- 
ment in Tolland must have been made in the year 1713. 

There is no positive evidence that the territory within the 
limits of Tolland was ever occupied by the Indians, other than 
for hunting and fishing. Formerly our ponds and streams 
were stored with excellent fish, and our forests were filled 
with a great variety of wild game, which during certain por- 
tions of the year invited the attention of tlie savage inhabit- 
ants occupying the land near the sea-shore. I have myself 
heard some of the aged people say, they had seen shad and 
salmon caught in large quantities in Willimantic river, between 
Tolland and Willington,and so plentifully were salmon caught, 
that fishermen had a standing rule that they would not sell a 
certain number of shad to one person unless he would take a 
certain quantity of salmon. The Indians in their summer 
visits to this town, found it necessary or convenient to erect 
wigwams or Indian huts, — traces of which in the western part 
of the town, on lands lately owned by Mr. Ephraira West and 
Mr. Timothy Benton, were visible within the recollection of 
some of our oldest inhabitants. A few families may have 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 17 

occupied these huts, but they left the town before its first set- 
tlement and none of the red men have ever dwelt here since. 
We have but few objects to which any Indian name was ever 
known to be attached. The Indians gave the name of Wan- 
gombog to a large portion of country in the southern part of 
Tolland county, adjacent to the large pond known by this 
name, situated in the town of Coventry. A portion of the 
town of Tolland was within the territory called Wangombog, 
and several of the early deeds recorded in Tolland, describe 
the land conveyed as situated in Wangombog. The same 
name is given to the locality of the land conveyed in the will 
of Joshua, before mentioned. The pond on the west side of 
Tolland, was by the Indians called Shenipset, which by an 
easy corruption is now pronounced Snipsic. This word is 
variously spelled in the old records — sometimes Shenipset, 
Shenaps, Shenips. 

The small stream running east of the village was by the 
Indians called Skungamug — the corruption of which is Skunk- 
amug or Skunkermug — sometimes in the old records written 
Scungamuck. These Indian names, though less euphonious 
than some of our more modern ones, I hope will be perpetu- 
ated. Indeed, I entertain some doubt whether they will sound 
any more harsh in the ears of our posterity than Ball Hill, 
Sugar Hill, Buff Cap, Goose Lane, or Cedar Swamp — all of 
which are the recognized modern names of well-known local- 
ities. 

As I have already intimated, there was early a difficulty 
about the true location of the north line of the town of 'Cov- 
entry. The Windsor proprietors, under date of May 14, 1716, 
petitioned for a " final settlement with the legatees of Joshua ; 
for setting of bounds with the town of Coventry, concerning 
which there is much difficulty ; " also, " that we may have 
privilege to choose a town clerk and other officers as the law 
directs." This petition purports to be the petition " of us the 
subscribers, inhabitants of Tolland," and was negatived by the 
Assembly. The following are the names of the petitioners, 
to wit: 



18 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

Baker, Joseph Ellis, Thomas Stearns, Shiibaer 
Benton, Joseph Grant, Natlianiel Willes, Joshua 
Birfje, Cornelius Loomis, Joshua Wolrott, Henry 
Benton, Samuel Mather, Joseph Taylor, Ts'athaniel. 
Bradlov, Geor<;e Porter, Hezekiah 16 in all. 



BisscU, Ephraim I'orter, Joseph 

111 May, 171H, a petition was presented to the General 
Assembly, as follows, to wit: "A petition of us the subseri- 
bers, inhabitants of Tolland, relative to Coventry lands." 
Signed by the following persons : 

Baker, Joseph Loomis, Joshua Shifter, Josejih 

Birize, Cornelius Loonii^^, Enoeh Slafter, Antony 

Benton, Joseph Nye, Ehenezer Stimpson, James 

Benton, Daniel Paek, Joseph Stoui^hton, Thomas 

Cook, Daniel Porter, Hezekiah Taylor, Nathaniel 

Drake, Josepii Porter, Joseph Willes, Joshua 

¥*i/^ Eaton, William Kice, Joseph Woleott, Simon. 

Grant, Noah Boekwell. Joseph 25 in all. 

Hateh, Joseph Stearns, Shubael 

1 am unable to ascertain at what time the line between Tol- 
land and Coventry was finally settled, but 1 have no doubt it 
was done before 1720, in which year a committee appointed by 
the General Assembly, located the town of Tolland and defined 
' its boundaries. The following is a copy of their report : 

'<- "This may certify whom it may concern, that we, James 

Jf "Wadsworth and John Hall, on this day of October, A. D. 
1720, being assisted by Thomas Kimberly, surveyor and in 
» com])any with sundry men of the town of Tolland, did pur- 
" ' suant to an act of the General Assembly of this colony, held at 
Hartford May 12, 1720, survey and lay out the north and 
west bounds of the town of Tolland ; and for that end we 
went to the north-east corner of the town of Coventry ; and 
from thence due north (by the needle of the instrument, j six 
miles, at the end wliereof to wit, in an east line by the needle, 
at or on the west bank of Willintantic river, we erected a heap 
of stones for the north-east corner of the township of Tolland, 
and marked a red oak tree on the south side with the letter 
T; and from thence ran upon a point west (by the needle,) 
six miles seventeen rods and thirteen links to a white oak tree 
marked and a heap of stones about it, standing on the south- 
erly side of a hill, which tree is the north-west corner bound- 
ary of said Tolland ; and from the said tree to run south, five 
degrees west to Coventry north-west corner ; — the land con- 
tained within the said town lines, and the said river which is 
the east bounds of said town is of the contents of six miles 
square. The chainmen were under oath as the law directed. 
A true copy of record. (Signed,) James Wadsworth. 
Examined by Hez. Wyllys, Sec'y. John Hall." 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 19 

From this certificate it is very evident that tlie north line 
of Coventry was substantially settled before October, 1720, 
and became the basis of the action of tlic above-named com- 
mittee in locating the north and west lines of the town of 
Tolland. But there were subsequent negotiations between 
these towns upon this subject. The towns of Coventry and 
Tolland appointed a committee of three from each town to 
agree about the dividing line, and they were empowered to 
make a final issue and determination of the lines between the 
towns. This committee consisted of Samuel Parker, Joseph 
Strong and Thomas Root, of Coventry ; and Joseph Hatch, 
Daniel Eaton and Noah Grant, of Tolland, and met on the 
6th day of February, 1722, and agreed that the dividing line be- 
tween the two towns should be the line run by Capt. James Wads- 
worth, Capt. John Hall, and Mr. Kimberly, and that the same 
should thoi-eafter be perambulated according to law. They 
further agreed, '• that Francis West and Joseph Benton, being 
in Coventry, migbt pay their public dues in Tolland, with 
three acres of land a-piece about their houses, and counted 
inhabitants of Tolland, as if Tolland had took them in ; they 
and their heirs and assigns living on the three acres of land 
where their houses now stand." Francis West found it im- 
practicable to reside in one town and exercise town privileges 
in another, and he very soon removed his house from Coven- 
try to Tolland. Tiiis house is the one lately occupied by Bil- 
laky Snow, now deceased. 

It would seem that the settlement Avith the legatees of 
Joshua, and the establishment of the line between the towns 
of Coventry and Tolland, might sufficiently quiet all conflict- 
ing claims and remove all doubts respecting the corporate 
powers of the town of Tolland and the title of its inhabitants 
to the territory within the limits of its charter. But lest 
there might be some defect in the previous proceedings, or 
some omission which might cause further difficulties, the town 
procured from the General Assembly, at its session in New 
Haven, October, 1728, the passage of a resolution confirming 
and establishing every thing that had been previously done. 
This resolution, after reciting the resolution of May 12, 1715, 



20 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

recofjiiizes the survey made by Messrs. Wadsworth and Hall 
in 1720, and also the deed to the proprietors of Tolland, dated 
May 11, 1719, and then declares that the proprietors " held 
the lands of the said township as one entire propriety ; and that 
all the said proprietors shall have equal interest and benefit 
by force of the patent by the said assembly granted to be exe- 
cuted to the said proprietors in usual form." 

Li pursuance with this resolution a patent was issued by the 
Governor, countersigned by the Secretary of State, dated the 
2d day of Nov., 1728, in and by which all the powers, privileges 
and franchises before granted to the AVindsor men, were ratified 
and confirmed, and the title to the land witliin the boundaries of 
the town as described by the survey of Messrs. Wadsworth and 
Hall, was fully, clearly, absolutely given, gi-anted, ratified and 
confirmed luito Henry Wolcott, Stephen Steel, Francis West, 
together with the rest of the proprietors of the town ; and to 
their heirs and assigns, and such as should thereafter legally 
succeed to, and represent them forever in such proportion as 
they the said proprietors, partners and settlers, or any of them 
respectively had right in, or were lawfully possessed of the 
same. Also authorizing and empowering said proprietors and 
inhabitants of said town, from time to time, and at all times 
forever tliereafter, to exercise and enjoy all such rights, pow- 
ers, privileges and franchises in and among themselves, as 
were given, granted, allowed and exercised and enjoyed by and 
amongst the proprietors of other towns of the colony, accord- 
ing to the common apnroved custom and observance ; and 
guaranteeing to said grantees, their heirs and assigns legally 
representing them, " a good, pure, perfect, absolute and inde- 
feasible estate of inheritance, in fee simple, in the lands 
described, to be holden of his majesty his heirs and successors, 
as of his majesty's manor of East Greenwich in the county 
of Kent in the Kingdom of England, in free and common 
socage, and not in capite nor by knight service, yielding there- 
for and paying unto our sovereign lord king George, his heirs 
and successors forever, one fifth part of all ore of gold and 
silver, which from time to time and at all times forever there- 
after, shall be there gotten, had or obtained in lieu of all ser- 
vices, dutys and demands whatsoever." 



THE EARLY HISTORY OP TOLLAND. 21 

Note. Socage, is a tenure by any certain and determinate ser- 
vice. It is of two kinds — Free socage, and villein socage. Free 
socage is when the services are not only certain but honorable. Vil- 
lien socage is where the services, tliough certain, are of a degraded 
nature. The tenure by which the lands granted in the foregoing 
patent were holden, was one-fifth part of all ore of gold and silver 
found within the limits of the town. This was both certain and hon- 
orable, and in the absence of these precious metals will never be a 
great burden to the inhabitants of that town. 



MEETING-HOUSES, 



The first settlers of Tolland exhibited a very strong attach- 
ment to religious institutions. Being lineal descendants of 
that band of pilgrims that left their native land, to seek across 
the trackless waters an asylum where they could worship the 
God of their fathers unmolested, according to the dictates of 
their own consciences, it is not strange that they should regard 
the social organization as entirely imperfect without a spirit- 
ual leader to break to them the bread of life. A minister and 
a house for public worship were not only regarded by them as 
essential to their hapjnness, but as indispensable to their 
worldly prosperity ; and hence all sacrifices necessary to the 
attainment of these objects were most cheerfully made. The 
early records of the town furnish conclusive evidence of their 
intense zeal upon this subject, and their great liberality in a 
cause so near their hearts. They were authorized by the 
General Assembly to choose town officers in the year 1717, 
and the first town clerk and selectmen were chosen in that 
year. In the year 1719, when probably there were not over 
twenty-five families in town, a vote was passed appropriating 
eighty acres of land for a minister lot, and offering a salary of 
seventy-five pounds, or two hundred and fifty dollars a year, 
making an average sum of ten dollars annually to each fam- 
ily. On the 19th day of November, 1719, tlie proprietors of 
the town voted to build a meeting-house, thirty feet square, 
and appointed Noah Grant, William Eaton, and Joseph Ben- 
ton, a committee " to order the affairs' of the meeting-house." 



'Jli THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

There was, as usual, some difficulty iu locating this house ; 
and the records show that several meetings were held on the 
subject, which served to delay the building of the house for 
several months. The s])ot where it was finally erected was 
agreed upon February 5, lT-Jl-22 ; which was on the hill a 
little east of the jn'csent residence of ]\Ir. William West. At a 
previous meeting lield on the olst of January, 1720-1, tlie 
town voted to build a meeting-house thirty feet long and twenty- 
eight feet wide, with eighteen feet posts. They also voted 
that the frame of the building should be raised by the last day 
of the month of June next following, and that the sides should 
be covered, and the floors laid, and windows put in, by the 
last of the following November. It is not probable that any 
very serious ettbrt was made to comply with tliese votes ; for 
I find the record of a town meeting held on the first of 
May of the same year, at wliich it was voted that tlie build- 
ing should be forty-five feet long, thirty-five feet wide, and 
twenty feet between joints. As this is tlie last vote upon the 
subject of dimensions, it is fair to presume that the house was 
finally built as last prescribed, and was probably raised in the 
spring of 1722. It does not appear when this house was 
dedicated to the worship of God, yet there can be no doubt 
public worship was held in it early in the year 1728. 

October 4, 1725, a tax of four pence on the pound was laid 
to defray the expenses " arisen and arising about furnishing 
the meeting-house." February 28, 172d, it was voted to 
build pews upon that part of the floor that was raised 
above the rest. December, 1728, it was voted "to build a 
house about twenty feet by fourteen, near the meeting- 
house, to accommodate the inhabitants living remote from 
the meeting-house with a place to spend the intermission 
between services without troubling others." December 9, 

1730, the town voted that " tlie selectmen should procure at the 
towns cost what is necessary for tlie pulpit." Decemljcr 8, 

1731, it was voted " to do something towards repairing and 
finishing the galleries." From 1744 to 174U, liberty was given 
divers persons to •' erect pews in the galleries at their own 
expense and for their own accommodation," 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 23 

It would seem that this house did not answer the purpose 
for which it was designed ; for we find that before it had stood 
thirty years, to wit, on the 28tli of January, 1751, the town, 
by a vote of nearly two to one, voted " that it was necessary 
to build a new meeting-house for public woi-ship in said town." 
The question of building a new meeting-house at this time, 
must iiave been one of unusual interest, for at this meeting 
we find that no less than twenty-eight persons were admitted 
inhabitants of the town, and one hundred and ten votes were 
given upon tlie question, viz., seventy in the affirmative, and 
forty in the negative. Three unsuccessful attempts were 
made to rescind this vote, but the town adhered with increased 
majorities each time to its first decision. The location of this 
house was a matter of even more than usual interest. The 
inhabitants of the north-west and western portions of the town 
insisted upon a site at the north end of the street, while those 
of the southern and eastern portions were equally strenuous 
for its location at tlie south end of the street. The matter was 
at first siibmitted to the town, and a majority of votes decided 
in favor of the southern location. There was then no road 
leading into the street from the eastern part of the town, 
except the one leading from near where the old meethig-house 
stood, and of course all persons attending meetings from the 
eastern part of the town would have to come into the street 
at the south end, which doubtless had its influence in deter- 
mining the location of the house. Tradition says that the 
influence of the Hon. Zebulon West, whose residence was in 
the south part of the town, had great weight in the final set- 
tlement of this question. The minority did not readily sub- 
mit to the decision of the majority, and they appealed to the 
General Court and obtained a committee to review the pro- 
ceedings of the town, but after several public hearings, the 
location fixed by vote of the town was finally confirmed. On 
the 24th day of December, 1753, the town voted to build the 
new meeting-house fifty-six feet long and forty feet wide. 
This house was raised in the month of May, 1754, and was so 
far finished as to be used for public worship in the Spring of 
1755. The house was erected without a steeple, and it was 



24 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

not until the year 17U2, that the town came to the conclusion 
not to dispense with this appendage any longer. At a town 
meeting held on the 12th day of January, 1792, they voted 
" That the town will build a steeple to the meeting-house, 
Provided, that a bell can be procured and given to the town 
without burdening the town witli any expense for said bell." 
The bell was to be procured by voluntary subscription, and 
such progress was made in this direction, that the town, at an 
adjourned meeting on the second day of February, 1792, voted 
" to raise a tax on the last August list two pence and one far- 
thing on the pound to build a steeple to the meeting-house in 
Tolland." It is a traditional fact, that the inhabitants of the 
north-west and western portions of the town were very much 
opposed to the project of building the steeple, and it is said 
that two persons, viz.. Gen. Chapman, and his uncle, Simon 
Chapman, were the only persons from that quarter of the 
town who voted in the affirmative on this question. It is also 
said that the old fend growing out of the location of the 
meeting-house was fully revived and had its effect upon those 
who voted in the negative. It seems the people were hardly 
satisfied with the action of tli£ town on this subject, and 
another town meeting was called as will appear by the follow- 
ing vote copied from the town records under date of April 
26, 1792 : 

"Voted at said meeting that the town consider the first 
article in the warning for a town meeting at this time first, 
(viz.) whether they will reconsider the vote passed at a former 
town meeting to build a steeple to the meeting-house. Voted, 
to take that up first. The question was then put whether the 
town would reconsider their vote passed at a former meeting 
to build a steeple to the meeting-house. Negatived by the 
whole." 

The following vote furnishes some evidence that the old 
difficulty about the location of the house was not entirely for- 
gotten. It is under date of May 4, 1792, and is as follows, to 
wit: 

"Voted to choose an agent to send to Hartford to attend 
the General Assembly at the present session to oppose the 
memorial of a number of inhabitants of the town of Tolland, 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 25 

referred to said Assembly, praying for liberty to move the meet- 
ing-house in said Tolland to some other place near the centre 
of said town," 

It is probable that the steeple was built and the bell pro- 
cured and in use before December 3d, 1792, for on that day 
a town meeting was held at which the following votes were 
passed : 

Voted, " That a tax of one penny, three farthings on the 
pound be laid and collected on the last August grand list, to 
pay up the committee the residue of their bills for building 
the steeple to the meeting-house ; and the overplus, if any, to 
remain to defray other town expenses. At the same meeting, 
Voted, That the selectmen of said town procure Mr. Hanks 
to run over the bell, if he will do it on reasonable terms, and 
to hang it again in the steeple." 

Mr. Hope Lathrop, an influential citizen, was very active in 
procuring subscriptions for the bell. It is said he went into 
the west part of the town to obtain funds for this purpose, 
and being universally refused, he became a little excited, and 
declared that those who would not give anything for the bell 
should not hear it ring. 

The collection of the tax for building the steeple was resisted 
by people in the western part of the town, and the collector, 
under the direction of the selectmen, distrained an ox, the 
property of Nathaniel Kingsbury, Jr., to pay his tax. This 
Nathaniel Kingsbury was an elder brother of Deacon Jabez 
Kingsbury, whose ^rand-children still own and live on the 
farm owned by him during his life time. Mr. Nathaniel 
Kingsbury brought an action against Daniel Edgerton and 
others, then selectmen of Tolland, to test the legality of this 
tax. The writ was dated January 28, 1793 ; the facts were 
agreed to by the parties, and the cause was carried to the 
Supreme Court of Errors. Two questions were made in the 
case: — 1. That the town had no right to tax its inhabitants 
to build a steeple to its meeting-house; and 2. If it had this 
right it could only be exercised by a vote of two-thirds of the 
voters at a legal meeting ; and inasmuch as the tax in ques- 
tion was laid by a majority vote only, it was not legally laid. 

4 



26 THE EAELY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

But the court ruled both questions iu favor of the town, and 
the plaintiff liad to pay the costs. 

Tradition informs us that the iirst public use to which the 
first bell was put, was tolling for the death of Capt. Hope 
Lathrop, who was so active in procuring it, and that it was 
cracked on that occasion. He died November 8, 1792, and 
the meeting, to have Mr. Hanks recast the bell, was held 
December 8, 1792; a fact that corroborates the traditional 
evidence. 

Note. The steeple built by the town of Tolland in 1792, was 
just one hundred feet high, and was the first or nearly the first ever 
built in the county. It, of course, attracted great attention, and was 
scrutinized by people from other towns. One Oliver Arnold, happen- 
ing in Tolland, and knowing somewhat of the difficulties respecting 
the building of the steeple, stood gazing upon it, when a sort of inspi- 
ration came upon him, and he gave vent to his reflections in the follow- 
ing doggerel: 

" Tuor Tolland ; grand people ! 

Old meeting house, and new steeple! " 

This doggerel distich has more meaning than at fii'St sight is appar- 
ent. It not only exhibits the envious feelings of the speaker towards 
the people of Tolland, but contains a sarcastic criticism upon their 
conduct. The term "poor Tolland," was intended to describe the 
pecuniary condition of the town, as exhibited in its barren hills and 
broken land. The term "grand people," was used to express the 
contempt which the speaker felt for the distinguishing characteristics 
of the town as the county metropolis. The people had just built a 
court-house, jail, and a tall steeple. The other line is a biting criti- 
cism on the taste and judgment of the people in having an old build- 
ing to meet in with a new steeple for ornament. 

Another incident will illustrate this feeling more fully. It was 
formerly the practice of the profession to attend the Superior Court 
on its circuit, and remain until the court adjourned. Many leading 
members of the bar, in "Windham and New London counties, were in 
the habit of attending the courts in Tolland, and were often engaged 
in the more important trials. On one occasion, after a session of some 
interest, a gentleman from Norwich took occasion publicly to congrat- 
ulate the people of Tolland on their recent improvements, and the 
brilliant prospects before them; and continuing his remarks with 



THE EARLY HISTORY OP TOLLAND. 27 

more of irony than truth, said he entertained no doubt Tolland would 
yet be a port of entry, and vessels would be seen unloading their car- 
goes upon the banks of the Skungamug. A resident of Tolland, 
standing by, and not much relishing the sarcasm of the speaker, in- 
terrupted him by saying that the event of which he was speaking 
was, in his judgment, much nearer at hand than he, the speaker, antici- 
pated ; for, said he, the small craft from the city of Norwich have 
already found their way amongst us, and their larger vessels will 
doubtless follow m their wake. 

Although this meeting-house was so far finished as to be 
used for public worship in 1755, it was not entirely completed 
until several years afterwards, for I find a record of a vote, 
passed on the 3d day of March, 1760, raising a tax for finish- 
ing the meeting-house, which was made payable the first day 
of November then next following. The interior of this house 
was fitted up with square pews, having seats usually on three 
sides, so that a large portion of the audience had to sit with 
their sides or backs to the minister. These pews fur- 
nished very indifferent accommodations for worshippers who 
indulged in the somniferous habits of some of the present 
generation. The training of our ancestors, and their sense 
of propriety, seemed to incline them to think less of their 
bodily ease and comfort, during public worship, than of the 
manner and spirit with which it was conducted. In their day 
it was no particular hardship for females to walk two and 
three miles every sabbath to meeting, if the weather would 
permit ; and very few were ever found in any congregation so 
overcome with bodily fatigue as to be unable or unwilling to 
stand erect during the entire devotional part of the exercises. 
It would doubtless have been a matter of surprise and aston- 
ishment could they have foreseen that their posterity, within 
half a century, would become so effeminate as to be unable 
to walk half a mile to attend public worship, or to stand 
during the singing of a short hymn. 

The meeting-house, of which I have been speaking, was 
taken down in the summer of 1838, being eiglit3'-four years 
after its erection. The meeting-house now used by the Con- 



28 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

gregational society was then built, and was publicly dedicated 
to religious services on the 25th day of October, 1838. 

The liouse which belongs to the Methodist society was 
erected by voluntary contributions in the year 1794. Its in- 
terior was at first very rude and the seats uncomfortable. It 
underwent a most thorough repair in the year 1832, and by 
subsequent repairs and alterations has been somewhat im- 
proved. Tliere has never been any money expended upon it 
from the town treasury, the whole expense having been borne 
by individuals. The house belonging to the Baptist denom- 
ination was built by subscription in the year 1832, and has 
been throughly repaired. Before the building of this house, 
this congregation held their meetings in the old court-house, 
when that edifice was standing, and afterwards in the old 
school-house of the Center district. 



MINISTERS 



The first vote on record in Tolland, respecting ministers, is 
under date of June 15, 1719, and is in the following words, to 
wit: "At a meeting of the inhabitants of Tolland, tliey did 
choose Joseph Benton to go to see if he can get a minister 
to be amongst us, to preach the gospel amongst us." From 
sundry votes of the town, passed in the months of January 
and February, 1719-20, it is certain that Rev. Stephen Steel 
was then officiating as a clergyman in this town. On the 17th 
day of said February the town voted " to give the minister 
sixty pounds a year, and not to build him a house," and also, 
" that John Yeomans and Joseph Benton shall go to Mr. Ste- 
phen Steel to see if he will accept of what they have agreed 
to do for him." On the 22d of September, 1720, " it was 
voted, that Mr. West, Mr. Yeomans, Mr. Eaton and Joseph 
Benton shall be a committee to wait or call on Mr. Steel for 
a longer time to be with' us ; and to see whether he will settle 
with us." On the 7tli of November "it was voted, that they 
will give to Mr. Steel, if he will settle amongst us, the sum 



THE EARLY HISTORY OP TOLLAND. 29 

of seventy-five pounds, to be paid in money or provisions, at 
the market price, and a lot and allottment amongst us; he 
settling himself in tJie work of the ministry amongst us." 
It does not distinctly appear from the records whether Mr. 
Steel accepted this call ; but that he was the minister of the 
town from the year 1719, under a contract to render services, 
there can be no doubt. January 31, 1721, the town voted 
" they would not agree with Mr. Steel no otherwise but as it 
was last voted, to wit: seventy-five pounds and he to build his 
house." They also voted, " that his salary should begin when 
he began to preach with us, except the time when he was 
wanting." In September following, a committee was ap- 
pointed "to reckon with Mr. Steel to see what Avas paid to 
him, and what was behind of his due." The committee were 
Joseph Benton, William Eaton, Joshua Willes and Joseph 
Pack. It appears that there was no organized church in Tol- 
land before the year 1722. When, or under what circumstan- 
ces, the first church was gathered, can not be learned from 
any records of its own, nor are there any traces of its separate 
action to be found until the settlement of Eev. Ansel Nash as 
its pastor in the year 1813. But in the town records, under 
date of 1722, (the month being torn off,) we find the follow- 
ing vote: "Voted, that Joseph Benton should get a prayer 
put into the General Assembly for gathering a church and 
ordaining a minister in Tolland." I can have no doubt that 
this vote was passed early in the year 1722, for there is now 
on file in the records of this State at Hartford, a document in 
the words and figures following, to wit : 

" To the Honorable the Governor, Council and Representa- 
tives in General Court assembled, in Hartford, May 10, 1722. 
The prayer of Joseph Benton, of Tolland, humbly showeth : 
that under the conduct of Divine Providence, and by the 
favor of this honorable assembly, the aforementioned town of 
Tolland is settled with a competent number of inhabitants : 
and having obtained a suitable person to preach the gospel 
amongst us to the good satisfaction of the inhabitants, we are 
desirous to enjoy the benefits of all gospel ordinances amongst 
us, to which end, we, as our law directs, apply ourselves to this 
honorable assembly for their approbation therein ; and by a 
vote of said town, your petitioner is empowered to make his 



30 THE EARLY HISTORY OP TOLLAND. 

application to this lionorable assembly ; and your good count- 
enance herein will be a further obligation to your petitioner 
ever to pray, as in duty bound. 

JOSEPH BENTON. 

Upon this petition the following entries are made. "Granted 
in the Upper House. Test, Hezekiah Wyllis, Secretary." 
"Tlie prayer above granted in the Lower House. Test, Jo- 
seph Whiting, Clerk." This document establishes the follow- 
ing facts : First, that the vote of the town, directing Joseph 
Benton to get a prayer put into the general assembly for 
gathering a church, was passed before May 10, 1722. Second, 
that the town had then obtained a minister to the acceptance 
of the inhabitants of the town. Third, that there was then no 
organized church in town. Fourth, that it was the duty of the 
town to obtain leave of the general assembly to gather a 
church, so that they might enjoy gospel ordinances. Fifth, 
that the general assembly did grant leave to the town of Tol- 
land to gather a church at its session in May, 1722. The 
next record in order I have been able to find is a town record 
under date of June 19, 1723, and is as follows, to wit: 

" Voted, That the church hath liberty to ordain Mr. Stephen 
Steel pastor of a church in Tolland. Voted, That the charge 
of Mr. Steel's ordination be done at the expense of the town. 
Voted, That Noah Grant shall be one to see that provision be 
made for the ordination of Mr. Steel." 

" Voted, That Daniel Cook shall be one to take care that 
provision be made for Mr. Steel's ordination.'' 

From the foregoing documents and records it is apparent 
that the churcli of the Congregational Society in Tolland was 
organized between the month of May, 1722, and the month 
of June, 1723, but at wdiat precise date, or who were its first 
officers or members can not now be accurately ascertained. 
The Rev. Stephen Steel, was ordained as pastor of the church 
and society in Tolland in 1723, but the precise date is not 
known. He continued to be the pastor of the church until 
the 21st day of December, 1758, when the connection between 
him and the church and society was amicably dissolved by the 
parties, on account of his ill health. He died in Tolland on 
the 4th day of December, 1759, in the 63d year of his age. 



THE EARLY HISTORY OP TOLLAND. 31 

George Steel came from England, and after a few years 
residence in Cambridge, Mass., was one of the earliest settlers 
of Hartford, Conn., and was one of the forty-two Hartford 
soldiers who served under Captain Mason in the Pequot war. 
He died in 1663 at an advanced age. His farm, now a por- 
tion of the city, of immense valne, was situated around the 
present Washington and Lafayette streets; his house stood on 
the latter just out of Washington street. James Steel, his son, 
married for his first wife Anna Bishop, of Guilford, who died 
in the year 1675. He afterwards married Bethiah, widow of 
Samuel Stocking. James Steel, the son of James and Anna 
Steel, and the grandson of George Steel, Avas born about the 
year 1658, and died in 1712. He married Sarah Barnard, 
who died his widow in 1730. Stephen Steel, the son of James 
and Sarali Steel, and the great grandson of George Steel, was 
born in Hartford in the year 1696, in the house, yet standing, 
on the spot where George Steel first settled. He was the 
first minister of Tolland. 

He married Rutli Porter, of Hadley, Mass. Their children 
were as follows : 

Ruth, their daughter, was born August 30, 1722, and died February 6, 1740-41. 

Stephen, son, " September 29, 1724. Died October'2g, 1802. 

Eleazer, '• " August 2, 1726. 

Elisha, '• " October 7, 1728. 

Mehitabe], daughter, •' June 6, 173.3. 

James, son, '" February (j.jl737. 

John, '' " November 25, 1738. 

Aaron, '• •■ November 1, 1744. 

Ruth, the widow of Rev. Stephen Steel, died May 14, 1792, 
aged ninety-one. 

There was also Sarah, daughter of Rev. Stephen and Ruth 
Steel, who was born in Hadley about the year 1730 — there- 
fore not recorded in Tolland. 

• The sons of Rev. Stephen Steel, except James and Aaron, 
married and settled in Tolland. Stephen Steel, Jun., the eldest 
son, married Hannah Chapman, the daughter of Capt. Sam- 
uel Chapman. Her brother Elijah was married on the same 
day, (May 28, 1747,) to Sarah, daughter of Rev. Stephen 
Steel. 

The following is a record of the children of Stephen Steel, 
Jr., and his wife Hannah. 



Hannah. 
Stephen, 
Ruth, 


daughter, 

son, 
(laughter. 


Perez, 
Kuth, 
Mary, 
Daniel. 


son, 
daughter, 

son. 



32 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

Stephen, their son, was born July 10, 1749, and died November 26, 1750. 
November 2, 1760. 
August 31, 1752. 

September 17, 1755, and died December 31, 175S- 
JMay 1, 1758. 

April 29, 1762, married Samuel R. Kingsbury, August 13, 1779. 
July25, 1765, mar. Asa Howard, diedNovember28, 1843, aged 78. 
June 24, 1769. 

Hannah, the wife of Stephen, died August 27, 1801. 

This Stephen Steel was an officer of the militia and captain 
of the company in Tolland ; and was selectman of the town 
for five years. 

Perez Steel, the son of Stephen and Hannah Steel, married 
Hannah Simons, of Tolland, June 7, 1781. The following is 
the record of their children. 

Lusalla, their daughter, was born Slay 1, 1782, and died June 14, 1782- 

Aaron, son, '" April 16, 1783. 

Lusalln. (laughter, " February 23, 1785. 

Perez, sou, '• April 10, 1787. 

Clarissa, daughter. " August 29, 1789. 

Orrenda, " '' April 4, 1792. 

■Juliana, " " August 23, 1794. 

Eleazer Steel, son of Rev. Stephen Steel and his wife Ruth, 
married Mrs. Ann AVhite, of Bolton, December 28, 1749. 
She died February 22, 1750. Eleazer Steel married, for his 
second wife, Ruth Chapman, daughter of Capt. Samuel 
Chapman, of Tolland, November 7, 1751. 

The following is their family record, to wit : 

Eleazer, their son, was born .\ugu8t 20, 1753. 

Ann, daughter, " April 10, 1755. 

Samuel, son, '• May 7, 1757, died in revolutionary service, 1780 

Huth, daughter, '' April 27, 1760, died April 23, 1775. 

Joel, son, " July24, 1762. died March 18. 1778. 

Asbbel, " " March 15, 1765. 

David, " " »June 29, 1767. 

Jeduthan, '■ '• February 8, 1772, died September 25, 1775. 

Abigail, daughter, '' May 5, 1774. 

Mrs. Ruth Steel, wife of Fleazer Steel, died December 6, 
1776, aged 48. 

Eleazer Steel, of Tolland, and Lois Fenton, of Willington, 
were married May 7, 1778. He died February 26, 1799, in 
the 73d year of his age. He was town clerk of Tolland for 
nine years, from 1776 to 1784 inclusive, and was twice a repre- 
sentative in the General Assembly. 

Ashbel Steel, the son of Eleazer and Ruth Steel, married 
Elizabeth, daughter of Col. Solomon Wills, of Tolland, March 
26, 1789. 

The following is their family record, to wit : 



Salmon, 


son, " 


Seth Dwight, 


a (i 


Roxey Chapman, 


daughter, " 


FlorUIa, 


U C£ 


Ashbel Smith, 


son, " 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 83 

MeUcent Wills, their daughter, boru August 9, 1790, married S. Kent, March 3, 1812. 
"' " October 6, 1792, died August 22, 1823. 

March 14, 1796, died at Windsor. Ohio, September 1, 1834. 

March 23, 1798, married Solo, L.'Origgs, December 6, 1821. 

September 24, 1800, died October 25. 1802. 

December 7, 1804, died August 30, 1811. 

Ashbel Steel died May 30, 1830, aged Q6 years. 

Elizabeth Steel died January 2(3, 1832. 

Ashbel Steel was captain of one of the militia companies 
in Tolland, and was two years a selectman. He resided near 
the south end of Tolland street, at the corner of the road 
running to the western part of the town, in the house where 
his father lived and kept a tavern for many years. He was a 
kind, obliging neighbor and most excellent citizen. 

Melicent Wills Steel, his daughter, married Samuel Kent, 
of Suffield. They had two children, viz. : Elizabeth Sophro- 
nia Kent, now a resident of this village, and James S. Kent, 
a resident of Richmond, Virginia. 

Eleazer Steel, Jr., son of Eleazer and Ruth Steel, married 
Rebecca Lathrop, daughter of Hope Lathrop, December 16, 
1779. The following is their family record, to wit : 

Joel, their son, was born August 14, 1782. 

Eleazar, " " August 22, 1784. 

Jeduthan, " " February 25, 1787. 

Ralph, " '' May 8, 1789. 

Ruth, daughter, " January 4, 1792. 

Minerva, " " September 10, 1794, married Jarvis Crandal, died February 25, 1831. 

Marilla, " " January 16, 1797. 

Sanford, son, " February 27, 1799, now residing in Bolton. 

George, " " November 4, 1801. 

Mr. Eleazer Steel died June 24, 1809. Mrs. Rebecca Steel 
died March 3, 1806. 

James Steel, son of Rev. Stephen Steel, married Abigail 
Huntington, daughter of John Huntington, Esq., of Tolland, 
January 24, 1754. 

The following is their family record, viz. : 

Aaron, their son, was born October 19, 1754, died in the revolutionary army in New Jersey. 

James, " " October 30, 1756, died in Ellington, 1819. 

Zadoc, " " December 17, 1758, died in Stansted, Canada. 

Samuel, " '• May 10, 1761. 

Andrew, '■ " December 25, 1763. 

Abigail, daughter, '' August 16, 1766. 

Deborah, " " December 31, 1768. 

Abigail, wife of James Steel, died January, 1769. He 
married for his second wife, Dorothy Converse, of Stafford, 
September 14, 1769. Their children were : 

John, their son, was born November 8, 1770, died February 4, 1772. 
John, '' " December 31, 1772, died January 8, 1773. 

Dorothy, wife of James Steel, died March 10, 1773. He 
5 



84 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

married for his third Avife, Abigail Wakefield, of Weston, 
January 18, 1775. 

Abigail, their d.aughtcr, was born November IS, 1775. 

James Steel removed with his family to Ellington, in 1776, 
and having resided there several years, removed to Brookfield, 
Vermont, where his son Zadoc had commenced a settlement, 
and where lie died at an advanced age. His second son, 
James, settled in Ellington, one family of whose descendants, 
(that of Oliver Wolcott Steel, Esq.,) continue in that town. 
Andrew, fifth son of James Steel, Sen., residing in Randolph, 
Vermont, married Elizabeth Lathrop, of Tolland, August 17, 
1785. 

Elisha Steel, the son of Rev. Stephen Steel, married Sarah 
Wolcott, of Windsor, April 26, 1758. He graduated at Yale 
College in 1750, was educated for the bar, located in the town 
of Tolland, and engaged in the practice of his profession. 
He was chosen a representative in the General Assembly in 
1761, and was reelected five times. He was one of the two 
Justices of the Peace from 1761 to 1766 inclusive. He was 
the first lawyer ever located in the town of Tolland, and the 
only one while he lived. He died August 17, 1773. 

The record of his children is as follows, to wit : 

Sarah, his daughter, was born April 29, 1759. 

Mara, " " May 27, 1761. 

Mary-ann, " '• April 28, 1763. 

Elisha, son, " April 30, 1765. 

Roger Wolcott, " " January 19, 1768. 

Mehitabel, daughter, '• May 8, 1770, died August 21, 1772. 

John Steel, the son of Rev. Stephen Steel, married Sarah 
Cobb, daughter of Dr. Samuel Cobb, December 15, 1763. 
The following is the record of their children, to wit : 

Eunice, their daughter, was born March 19, 1767. 

Sarah, "" " February 25, 1769. 

John, son, " June 11, 1771, died September 8, 1777. 

Eleazer, '' " February 27, 1774, died September 14, 1777. 

Mary, daughter, " June 11, 1776. 

Ruth, " " August 11, 1778. 

Rachel, " '■ June 19, 1780. 

LoTine, " " September 29, 1782. 

Of the numerous descendants of the Rev. Stephen Steel, 
only a few now remain in Tolland, and no one bearing the 
name of Steel. They are to be found, however, in other fam- 
ilies. The Chapman family furnishes several of these descend- 
ants. The widow and children of the late Col. Ashbel Chap- 



/ 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 35 

man, the children of the late Mr. Reuben Chapman, Mr. 
Daniel Chapman, Mr. Elijah S. Chapman and their children, 
Mrs. George H. Kingsbury and her children ; Miss Elizabeth 
S. Kent and Charles 0. Benton ; George M. Grant, Edwin L. 
Grant, Calvin Whiton and Stephen Whiton, and their chil- 
dren, are descendants of Rev. Stephen Steel. The family of 
Sanford Steel, Esq., of Bolton, and Oliver AV. Steel, Esq., of ' 
Ellington, are also of the same descent. 

I am unable to give any very distinct idea of the person 
or character of the Rev. Stephen Steel. His death occurred 
one hundred and one years ago last December, and none of 
his cotemporaries now survive. Unfortunately, he left no 
publication, nor does any manuscript exist from which his 
intellectual and literary attainments can be estimated. He 
once preached the annual election sermon at Hartford, but 
omitted to furnish a copy for publication. The fact that he 
was selected for this service, is evidence that he was a man 
of more than ordinary ability, for in his day none but clergy- 
meiUK)f very respectable attainments were honored with this 
distinction. His correspondence with the town, and the sat- 
isfactory arrangements made with its agents, when his health 
became so much impaired as to disable him from performing 
the duties of his ministerial office, give unmistakable evi- 
dence of his conciliatory spirit, his disinterestedness and his 
unaffected piety. He had then been the sole minister of the 
town for nearly forty years, had commenced with it in its 
infancy, when it was nearly an unbroken wilderness, contain- 
ing less than twenty-five families ; had seen the population 
increase to near one thousand, and had the satisfaction of 
knowing there was not, at the time of his dismissal, a single 
dissenting worshiper in the whole number. The Rev. Dr. 
Williams, the immediate successor of Mr. Steel, told a friend 
of mine in 1827, that at the time of his settlement, and for 
several years thereafter, there was not a dissenter, nor the 
least want of unanimity on ecclesiastical affairs in the whole 
town. I could almost be willing to give in my adherence to 
the most rigid and antiquated puritauism, if I could once 
more see such unanimity among those who profess to be actu- 
ated by the same spirit. 



36 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

The connection between the Rev. Stephen Steel and the 
church and society in Tolland, was dissolved by mutual con- 
sent on the 25th day of December, 1758. The town soon 
invited a Mr. Gideon Noble, and afterwards a Mr. Nehemiah 
Strong to preach as candidates for settlement. But the Rev. 
Nathan Williams received a unanimous call from the town to 
settle in the work of the ministry in Tolland, on the 26th 
day of November, 1759, — they offering to pay him two hun- 
dred pounds, (six hundred sixty-six dollars and sixty-six 
cents,) as a settlement, and eighty pounds, (two hundred 
sixty six dollars, sixty-six cents,) as a yearly salary. Tliis 
proposition was accepted, and the Rev. Nathan Williams was 
ordained April 30, 1760. He continued the sole pastor of the 
church and society until January, 1813, a period of nearly 
fifty-three years, when the Rev. Ansel Nash was settled as his 
colleague. Doct. Williams continued to reside in Tolland 
until his decease, on the 15th of April, 1829, at the age of 
ninety-four years. He was born at Longmeadow, Mass., 
Nov. 8, 1735, was son of Rev. Stephen Williams, ministflr of 
that town, and grandson of Rev. tTohn Williams, the celebra- 
ted minister of Deerfield. 

The Rev. Nathan Williams, of Tolland, and Mary Hall, of 
Wallingford, were married October 20, 1760. The following 
were their children : 

Nathan, their son, was born Nov. 17, 1761, died in Savannah, Georgia, Dee. 16, 1784. 

Eliakim Hall, " '• Jan. 16, 1764, died April 28, 1810. 

William, " " April 23, 1766. 

Mary, daughter, " April 19, 1768, married Doct. Wm. Grosvenor, Oct. 4, 1787. 

Ruth, " " Nov. 11, 1770, died October 2, 1788. 

Abigail, " " Aug. 14, 1773, died Feb. 2, 1774. 

Isaac, sou " Sept. 24, 1776, died April 18, 1781. 

Madam Mary Williams, relict of Doct. Williams, died March 
9, 1833, aged ninety-five. 

Only three of the children of Doct. Williams lived to be 
married. His son, Eliakim H. Williams, first married Mary 
Burt, daughter of David Burt, of Longmeadow, Mass., Jan. 
18, 1792. She died January 22, 1793. He next married 
Damaris Cory, of Mansfield, February 1, 1797. She died Sep- 
tember 20, 1801. He married for his third wife Aurelia 
Howard, of Tolland, January 9, 1803, with whom he lived 
until his death, April 28, 1816. By his last wife he had two 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 37 

sons and two daughters, viz. : Eliakim and Isaac ; — and Erne- 
line and Maiy-Damaris-Aurelia. Mr. Eliakim H. Williams 
always resided in Tolland, and was town clerk at the time of 
his death. After his death his family removed to the State of 
New York, where they have since continued to reside. 

William Williams, son of Doct. Nathan Williams, married 
Sarah Burt, of Longmeadow, Mass., September 4, 17^3. 
They had seven sons, viz. : Nathan, William, David-Burt, 
Augustus-Davenport, Theodosicus-Dickerman, Charles- Albert, 
and Mortimer-Hall. Their daughters were Mary-Burt, and 
Sophia-Maria. This family lived in Tolland until the year 
1833, when they removed into the western country. 

Mary Williams, the daughter of Doct. Williams, married 
Doct. William Grosvenor, October 4, 1787. They lived in 
Tolland until Doct. Grosvenor's death, October 16, 1798. 
They had eight children, only three of whom survived infancy. 
The names of those were Mary- Williams, Ruth and Jacob. 
This family removed from Tolland after the decease of Doct. 
Grosvenor ; and there has been no one of the lineal descend- 
ants of Doct. Williams, resident in the town since 1833. 

The Rev. Doctor Williams holds a prominent place in the 
history of Tolland. He has done more than any other person 
to form the character of its inhabitants. He was their only 
minister for more than fifty years, and occupied a prominent 
and influential position for nearly seventy years of his life. 
In person he was about five feet nine inches in height ; rather 
stout, with a body symmetrical and well proportioned. He 
was easy and graceful in his manners, social in his habits, and 
interesting and instructive in his conversation. He was 
punctilious in etiquette, careful in his personal appearance, 
precise and select in his language, and in every way a model 
gentleman of the old school. As a preacher he adhered to 
the tenets of the old divines, was strictly orthodox as the 
term was then understood, but was quite liberal for the age 
in which he lived. He was a good scholar, well educated, 
with a fair intellect, and good common-sense. His public 
performances were very creditable, and quite acceptable to his 
parishioners. Several of his sermons and other religious com- 



38 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

positions were printed, and will compare favorably with simi- 
lar productions of his associates. Several copies of them are 
now deposited in the library of the Connecticut Historical 
Society at Hartford. They were written and published as fol- 
lows : 

In 1780. The Annual Election Sermon at Hartford. 

1788. On the Design and Importance of Christian Bap- 
tism. 

1792. On Christian Baptism and Discipline. Two edi- 

tions. 

1793. Discourse on the Fourth of July, at Stafford, 

1793. Fast Day Sermon at Tolland. Order and Har- 

mony in the Churches agreeable to God's Law. 

1794. Funeral Sermon at the Burial of Eliakim Hall, 

1795. Sermon at the Funeral of Rev. Nathan Strong, 

of Coventry. 
Mrs. Mary Williams was a perfect model for a minister's 
wife. Intelligent without vanity ; complacent without syco- 
phancy ; devotedly pious without any forbidding pretensions, 
she exercised a salutary influence without any apparent effort. 
She taught by example as well as by precept ; and the duties 
of a wife and a mother were not neglected nor forgotten in 
the pursuit of those that belong to the visionary philanthro- 
pist, or the chimerical moralist. She attended to the duties 
of her own household, and cared for the wants of her depend- 
ants, feeling that her happiness was best promoted when she 
was contributing to the enjoyment of those around her. She 
was an economist, not for the purpose of acquiring wealth, but 
on account of the example to others. Doct. Williams pos- 
sessed more of this world's goods, comparatively, than now 
ordinarily falls to the lot of country ministers, but it was never 
ostentatiously used. His house always exhibited comforts 
without extravagance, and great order and neatness without 
luxurious elegance. Mrs. Williams made it a matter of \n-'m- 
ciple to live like her parishioners, although her means would 
have allowed her greater comforts. She was heard to say during 
the last years of her life, that her children when small, always 
went barefooted to meeting in summer, because some in the 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 39 

parish were unable to furnish their's with shoes at that season, 
so that no comparison could be instituted between her children 
and others in that respect. The principle that prompted this 
act, properly cultivated, would tend to restrain the practice 
now becoming a custom, of regarding the attire in which we 
are clad when in the sanctuary, as of more consequence tlian 
the services in which we are there engaged. 

The Rev. Ansel Nash was settled as the colleague of the 
Rev. Doctor Williams, in tlie month of January, 1813, and 
continued to be the active pastor of the cluirch and society 
until the month of May, 1831, a period of a little more than 
eighteen years, when he was dismissed upon his own request, 
with the consent of a majority of the church and society. 

Mr. Nash was born in Williamsburg, Plampshire County, 
Mass., on the 16th of January, 1788. He was the son of 
John Nash, of Williamsburg, and his wife, Martha Little, 
formerly of Granby, Conn. He graduated at Williams College 
in the year 1807, at the age of nineteen years. He pursued 
and finished his theological studies at Andover, Mass., and 
was licensed to preach in the year 1810. He came to Tolland 
in the latter part of the summer of 1812, received a call, and 
in January, 1813, was ordained as tlie colleague of Doctor 
Williams. His salary was six hundred dollars a year ; one 
hundred of wliich, a few years later, he generously relin- 
quished annually, in consideration of the pecuniary circum- 
stances of the society. He was married to Eunice Jennings, 
of Windham, Conn., on the 24th of May, 1813, witli whom 
he lived until his death. He left no children. After he was 
dismissed from Tolland he was settled in the ministry in 
Bloomfield, Hartford County, Conn., six years, when his rela- 
tion with that people was dissolved, and he became the agent 
of the American Education Society awhile, and then the pas- 
tor of the first church in Rockville for about two years, when 
he was again dismissed. He was, at two different times, agent 
of the American Education Society, eight years, and supplied 
the pulpit in Colchester* Vermont, for about four years. 
While residing in Colchester, towards the close of his life, he 
became paralytic, and of unsound mind. In the vain hope 



40 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

that he could be benefited by the medical treatment and 
nursing at the insane hospital at Brattleborough, Vermont, 
he was sent to that institution in the summer of the year 1860, 
where, without receiving benefit, either in body or mind, from 
the change, he departed this life August 11, 1851, aged 63 
years, 6 months, and 26 days. 

Mr. Nash was a man of marked ability. To a mind natur- 
ally quick and active, was added the polish of a finished edu- 
cation ; and aided by a memory that garnered the choicest 
treasures of both ancient and modern literature, he was pre- 
pared to acquit himself creditably on the theatre of life. His 
sermons were characterized rather for their logic than their 
rhetoric, and contained more of argument than imagination ; 
still they were both attractive and instructive. He could not 
be said to be eloquent in their delivery, but was earnest, forci- 
ble and serious, and particularly successful in securing the 
attention of his hearers. In extemporary prayer he possessed 
peculiar gifts. He seemed to apprehend the secret desiies of 
the most obscure worshiper present, and would present them 
at the mercy seat in language that raised the mind from earth 
to heaven, and imbued it with that fervency which makes 
prayer importunate and effectual. 

Some of the productions of his pen have been published, 
among which are a Sermon on Christian Fellowship, printed 
in the National Preacher in the year 1831 ; a somewhat ex- 
tended memoir of Mrs. Elizabeth Eldredge in the Panoplist 
in the year 1816 ; and other interesting articles in magazines 
and newspapers. 

In social life, Mr. Nash was open, frank, and sometimes a 
little abrupt. He carefully noticed passing events, and was 
free to make them topics of general remark ; and it was some- 
times supposed these occupied too much of his time as a 
religious teacher. And yet he was never light nor trifling, 
and was always ready to defend the religion he professed, 
whenever and however assailed. His connection with secular 
matters, sometimes brought him ifi conflict with others en- 
gaged in similar pursuits, and was the cause of some uneasi- 
ness on the part of those who should have been his friends. 



THE EARLY HISTORY OP TOLLAND. 41 

He strenuously maintained the right of exercising his own 
judgment in matters personal to himself, and yet he would not 
obstinately pursue a course of conduct offensive to any one, 
when he had reason to believe such conduct was not required 
by other demands than his own interest. He was forward in 
all efforts for public improvement in the town in which he 
lived — particularly those which had for their object the edu- 
cation of the masses. He took especial interest in the estab- 
lishment of an academy in Tolland ; and was for a long time 
chairman of the board of trustees. It may not be invidious 
to remark, that the academy ceased to exist about the time of 
Mr. Nash's leaving the town, and there has been no special 
effort since to revive it. He was a valuable member of socie- 
ty ; an intelligent and interesting preacher ; a worthy and 
revered pastor ; and a most constant and sincere friend. 

After the dismissal of Mr. Nash, the Rev. Abram Marsh 
became the pastor of the Congregational church and society 
in Tolland, which position he continues to occupy. He was 
installed on the 30th day of November, 1831, Mr. Marsh 
was born in Hartford, Vermont, June 15, 1802. He was ed- 
ucated at Dartmouth College, where he graduated in 1825 ; 
pursued his theological studies at Andover, Mass., and was 
licensed to preach in 1828. He supplied a church in Redding, 
Vermont, about two years, a portion of which time he was 
the principal of an academy at Thetford. He married Miss 
Rhoda Short, of Vermont, January 25, 1829, who died in 
Tolland, August 17, 1840, leaving two sons. Mr. Marsh 
married Miss Mary H, Cooley, of Norwich, Conn,, his present 
wife, April 6, 1842. 

As he is still the pastor of the church and society in Tol- 
land, it is not proper for me to say more in this place ; and 
may the day be distant when any pen will be employed in 
writing his biography. 

From 1723 to the present time, a period of one hundred 
and thirty-eight years, the Congregational church and society 
have had but four settled ministers, and there has been but 
one year and two months vacation in the office during the 
whole time. 

6 



42 THE EARLY HISTORY OP TOLLAND. 

It'has generally been supposed there were no differences of 
opinion on matters of religion among the inhabitants of Tol- 
land before the year 1791, when the Methodists made their 
first location in this town. Although at the time of the set- 
tlement of Dr. Williams, and for thirty years thereafter, the 
people were of one fold and one shepherd, yet it is true that 
the inhabitants of Tolland, in common with the other towns 
in New England, were seriously affected by the preaching of 
Whitefield and his associates about the year 1745. The Rev. 
Wait Palmer, one of the preachers attached to that class of the 
followers of Mr. Whitefield that called themselves Separatists, 
labored in Tolland and its vicinity in the years 1750 and 1751, 
and received persons to his particular fellowship through the 
ordinance of baptism. This Mr. Palmer, and one Rev, Joshua 
Morse, administered the rite of ordination to one Shubael 
Stearns, Jr. , of Tolland, of whom I shall speak more particularly 
in another place. Suffice it here to say, that Mr. Stearns was 
a most zealous leader of the Separatists, and held no fellow- 
ship with the church then under the charge of Rev. Mr. Steel. 
Mr. Stearns left the town, with his principal adherents, in the 
year 1754, after which there was no particular controversy by 
reason of this sect. Traditioii informs us that the christian 
charity and sound judgment of Rev. Mr. Steel did very much 
to control the excited feeling of the people at this time, and 
continue their attachment to him, and to the church of which' 
he was the pastor. 

In the summer of 1791, the preachers of the Methodist 
denomination first visited the town of Tolland, and succeeded 
in establishing a Church. The names of their first preachers 
were Lee, Rayner and Hull. Their preaching was attended 
with very considerable success, and their followers became so 
numerous it was found necessary to l.ave a house for public 
worship, and one was built in 1794. These preachers brought 
with them much of the zeal and many of the practices of the 
Separatists ; and they attracted very great attention from the 
earnestness, and, what many supposed, the irregularities of 
their worship. This, doubtless, was the occasion of the fast- 
day sermon by the Rev. Dr. Williams, entitled, " Order and 



TfiE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 43 

Harmony in the Churches agreeable to God's Will," in which 
he speaks of the confusion and disorder of some worshiping 
assemblies as being contrary to the will of God. The organi- 
zation of the Methodist church and society has continued with 
but occasional interruptions, in a regular supply of preachers 
according to the usages of that denomination, to the present 
time. 

The Baptist church was organized in June, 1807. Their 
first minister was the Rev. Augustus BoUes, who was ordained 
their pastor in the year 1814. The services at his ordination 
were held in the Congregational meeting-house. He continued 
their minister three years. The next settled minister in tliis 
society was Rev. Levi Walker, Jr., who was ordained in June, 
1833, and was succeeded by Rev. Sylvester Barrows in the 
year 1836, who continued their minister until the year 1841. 
Since the departure of Mr. Barrows, the following named gen- 
tlemen have supplied the Baptist church and society, viz. : 
Rev. John Hunt, one year ; Rev. Jamas Squier, three years : 
Rev. George Mixter, two years ; Rev. Tliomas Holman, one 
year ; Rev. Percival Matthewson, one year; Rev. Homer Sears, 
three years ; Rev. Thomas Dowling, four years ; Rev. Joseph 
A. Tillinghast, a little more than a year, until his death Au- 
gust 7, 1859 ; and Rev. C. L. Baker, who is now their minis- 
ter. They have also been supplied occasionally by other per- 
sons. 



MILITARY 



The first record of any military organization in Tolland is 
under the date of October, 1722. The General Assembly then 
approved of Joseph Hatch as Lieutenant, and John Hunting- 
ton as Ensign of the train-band in Tolland. The number in 
the " train-band " was probably then too small to make a cap- 
tain necessary. The following return, copied from the archives 
in Hartford, for 1725, shows the election of the first captain 
of the train-band in this town. 



44 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

" Major Wolcott, Esq. Pursuant to that order from your- 
self for the drawing of the first company in Tolland, to a 
choice for their commissioned officers for said company in 
Tolland; said company accordingly met on the 20th day of 
April and orderly chose Lieutenant Joseph Hatch, captain ; 
Ensign John Huntington Lieutenant, and Joseph Pack Ensign. 
EBENEZER NYE, Military Clerk." 

Samuel Chapman was chosen in 1735, to succeed Joseph 
Hatch as captaiji of this company. By a return bearing date 
September 13, 1737, it appears that the roll of tliis company 
contained the^names of eighty-seven rank and file. The mili- 
tia were afterwards divided into two companies, called the 
north and south companies ; the division of territory between 
the companies was a line nearly east and west through the 
town, passing across the south end of the Street; and west of 
the Street was represented by the road running west from the 
present residence of Mr. William West to Vernon line. 

The extent of the participation of Tolland in the wars pre- 
vious to that which commenced in 1755, can not now be ascer- 
tained. All that is known with certainty is, that Captain 
Samuel Chapman, Sen., commanded a company in the expe- 
dition to Louisburgh, in 1745, where he died the followhig 
January ; and that Samuel Baker, son of Joseph Baker, in 
that, or a former war, died in captivity among the French and 
Indians. 

In the year 1756, the colonies raised an army of seven 
thousand men«for the purpose of aiding the mother country in 
an expedition against Crown point, and placed them under 
the command of Major-General Winslow. Azariah Wills, of 
Tolland, (brother of Solomon Wills, of whom I shall by and 
by have something to say,) enlisted under Capt. John Slap, 
in the service of the colonies, on the second day of April, 1756, 
and served until the 25th day of June following, when he was 
unfortunately taken prisoner, with others, by the French and 
Indians, between Albany and Hoosick, and carried to Canada. 
He remained a captive and endured great hardships until No- 
vember, 1758, when he attempted to return with Col. Schuy- 
ler and Major Putnam, but while on his journey home he was 
taken sick and died on the eighteenth of November, 1758. 



THE EARLY HISTORY OP TOLLAND. 



46 



How many others from Tolland were in this expedition I am 
unable to say. 

In August, 1757, there was an alarm that a powerful force 
of French and Indians was on the way to attack fort William 
Henry. Volunteers were called for, and Connecticut instant- 
ly poured forth several thousand. On the roll of Capt. Sam- 
uel Stoughton's company are found the names of the following 
men of Tolland. <« 



Ens. Samuel Chapman, 
Serg. Solomon Wills. 
Daniel Baker, 
Elihu Johnson, 
John Abbott, Jr , 
Abner West, 
Thacher Lathrop, 
Jacob Kellows, 



Nathan Harvey, 
David Hatch, 
John Eaton, 
Ichabod Hinckley, 
George Nye, 
Timothy Delano, 
William Benton, 



Solomon Loomis, 
Samuel Huntington, 
Jabez Bradley, 
Samuel Barnard, 
Samuel Benton, Jr., 
Samuel Aborn, 
Jonathan Ladd, Jr., 



Simon Chapman, 
Francis West, 
Rufus West, 
Joseph Davis, 
John Steams, Jr., 
Amos Ward. 
28 in all. 



But the French general, Montcalm, had prosecuted the 
siege with his usual vigor ; and the fort was compelled to sur- 
render before any of the volunteers could arrive. Those from 
Tolland went no further than Kinderhook, in the state of New 
York ; and returned home, receiving pay for only fifteen day's 
service. Pay was allowed for four horses from Tolland to 
Kinderhook, £2, 3s., 9d. ; for nineteen from Tolland to Litch- 
field, X4, 18s., lid. ; and for two to bring them back from' 
Litchfield, 14s., 5d. 

For the campaign of 1758, Connecticut agreed to furnish 
five thousand men ; and a company was formed in Tolland 
and its vicinity, of which Samuel Chapman, of Tolland, was 
captain. The following is a copy of the roll of his company. 



*Capt. Sam. Chapman, 
Ist Lieut. Titus Olcott, 
2d Lieut. George Cooley, 
*Ensign Solomon Wills, 
Serg. Samuel Benton, 

♦ " Jonathan Birge, 
" Abner Webb, 

* " James Steel, clerk, 
Corp. Samuel Hall, 

" Jonathan Bill, 

" Asa Wood, 

" Nath'n Boardman 
Drum'er, Henry Bowen, 

" Charles Kinj 
Fifer, Jo.'seph Conant? 

Privates. 
♦William Benton, 
*Moses West, 
*John Lathrop, 
♦Joseph Eaton, 
Daniel Brewster, 
Joseph Heath, 
Benjamin Burdon, 
Joseph Whitcomb, 
*John Barnard, 



♦Jonathan Boroughs, 
*Abner West, 
*Hope Lathrop, 
Timothy Ladd, 
Jacob Newell, 
John Isham, 
♦Lathrop Shurtliff, 
John Gray, 
♦Joseph Davis, 
Hezekiah Waters, 
Isaac Hills, 
iJoshua Hutchins, 
Jonathan Dart, 
Joseph Spencer, 
Beriah Bron.son, 
Hezekiah King, 
Samuel Hutchinson, 
Joseph Tucker, 
Jonathan Buckland, 
Samuel Blackmore, 
Jonathan Wright, 
Lemuel Jones, 
David Talcott, 
Moses Thrall, 
Brinton Payne, 



William Hoskins, 
Daniel Pratt, 
Abraham Whipple, 
John Atchison, 
Oliver Chapin, 
Hezekiah Spencer, 
John Fuller, 
Joseph Buell, 
Alexander Gowdy, 
Thomas Buck, 
Samuel Bartlett, 
Luke Parsons, 
Thomas Waters, 
.Tames Kibbee, 
.Tames Pease, 
Nathaniel Brace, 
Jacob Ward, 
Abner Pease, 
John Ford, 
Jonathan Phelps, 
VTilliam Kussell, 
'Nathan Harvey, 
Jonathan Bliss, 
♦Shubael Dimick, 
BeDjamiu Shepherd, 



♦Lemuel Hatch, 
♦Jabez Bradley,- 
♦Joseph Luce, 
Abijah Slarkham, 
Thomas Burns, 
Hezekiah U'ells, 
Jacob Hills, 
Simeon Webster, 
♦Solomon Loomis, 
Joseph Tilden, 
Joel Daniels, 
Samuel Carver, 
John Gordon, 
Samuel Darling, 
Joshua Bill, 
Joseph Pike, 
Nathan Ti£fany, 
.Toshua Allen, 
Josiah Fields, 
♦Nathaniel Warren, 
Joseph Crocker. 

Officers and music'ns, 15 

Privates, . . 80 

Total, 95 



46 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 



Twenty-one of the above, viz. : those marked *, are recog- 
nized as belonging in Tolland, and probably there were others. 
Most of the remainder would be recognized by their names 
as having gone from the towns of Somers, Mansfield, Willing- 
ton, Bolton, Coventry, and East Windsor. 

In the year 1762, the King of England made a requisition 
upon the colonies for troops to join in the expedition against 
the island of TJuba ; and a company was raised in the eastern 
part of the State, of which Col. Israel Putnam was, by one 
of the then formalities of the service, nominally captain, but 
really under the command of its first lieutenant, Solomon 
Wills, of Tolland. Tliis company went to the island of Cuba, 
and was present at the siege and capture of Havana, but 
was not in any serious engagement. When a boy, I was in- 
formed by a man whose name is on the roll, tliat after the 
principal fort had been undermined and blown up, so that a 
column of British regulars carried it by assault, this company 
had the sad duty to perform of clearing the fort and burying 
the dead. The destruction of life was very great; the dead 
•were represented as lying in winrows. The pools of blood 
were so deep in some places in the fort that, as my informant 
said, he was compelled to step over his shoes in human gore 
while removing the dead. Although this company was not 
Under fire during the whole of this campaign, the mortality 
of its members was unparalleled. Of the ninety-eight per- 
sons of which the company was composed and who actu- 
ally reached the Island, only twenty-two ever returned to 
their native land. Of the twenty-seven enlisted from Tolland 
and its vicinity, only four escaped the arrow of the fell des- 
troyer. The names of two of these four persons were Solo- 
mon Wills and Edward Hatch. John Barnard, John Bur- 
rows, Constant Crandall, William Eaton, Aaron Eaton, Leon- 
ard Grover, Judah Hatch, Noah Stimson, Ezra Waldo and 
Oliver Yeomans, of Tolland, arc known to have died on the 
Island of Cuba. Tliere were no deaths in the company before 
the month of August. As returned on the roll, the deaths 
were, in August, fifteen ; in September, eighteen ; in October, 
eighteen ; in November, eighteen ^ and in December, seven. 



THE EARLY HISTORY OP TOLLAND. 



47 



Total, seventy-six. The survivors were paid off December 
11, 1762. The average term of service was about thirty-five 
weeks. The folio wing is the pay-roll of this company. Those 
marked f died during the campaign. 



Israel Putnam, Capt., 
*Solo. mils, 1st Lieut . 
Alex. Chalker, 2d '• 
tisaac Dana. Ensign, 
tMoses Earl, Sergeant, 
Samuel Hyde, " 
Samuel Cotton, 
or 
Colton, 
tNath'l Wheeler, " 
*tConst Craudal, " 



tDaniel Brace, 
.Tames Belbon, 
tDaniel Brewer, 
+ William Case, 
t.Tohn Croswell, 
tEdmund Cadwell, 
t.Tohn Curtis, 
tJoseph Croswell, 
t-Tohn Cross, 
fEbenezer Dana, 
tReuhen Do\vning, 



tJos. Truesdale, Corp'l, John Dollaby, 



y*>- 



Silas Harris 
tThomas Brewer, 
tJoshua Reed, 

Privates. 
tJohn Abby, 
tNathan Allen, 
AaAi tSquire Allen, 
^./,(il6iii-.+Henry Bradley. 
Samuel Bliss, 
tJonathan Bliss, 
tliinaldo Burdon. 
*t.Tohn Barnard, 
*tJohn Burrows, 
tStephen Brace, 



fElijah Durphy, 
' tCornelius IJowning, 
' tJoel Daniels, 

*t William Eaton, 
V^t Joseph Edgertonj 
*t Aaron Eaton, 
Timothy Evans, 
fWilliam Ellis, 
tAbraham Forbes, 
tDavid Fuller, 
tMichael Grover, 
*tLeonard Grover, 
tStephen Goff, 
fEzekiel Guernsey, 



*tJudah Hatch, 
*Edward Hatch, 
t Joseph Hay ward, 
tAsahel Hoilister, 
t Robert Hoilister, 
tJacob Hoilister, 
John Hero, 
tNathaniel Holt, 
tEbenezer Holme.s, 
tJonathan .Tohnstou, 
tWilliam Kimball, 
Thomas Knapping, 
IBenj. L,angworthy, 
tBenjamin Loveman, 
tJohn Negus, 
tRichard Orms, 
tAbraham Porter, 
tNathaniel Redington, 
tJohn Read, 
Ackley Riley, 
tJohn Ripponer, 
tThomas Rose, 
tllatthew Raymond, 
tDaniel Roberts, 
*tNoah Stim.sou, 
tAmos Shurtliff, 



tSimon Strickland, 
tSamuel Stiles, 
tlsrael Saunders, 
t.\mos Staples, 
tl.saac Staples, 
Nathaniel Stone. 
tJonathan Sampson. 
t.Tedediah Sanger, 
tSamuel Smith. 
John Stark, 
Benjamin J^haw, 
Charles Shorvel, 
tSamuel W illiams, 
tJoseph Whitcomb, 
John Way, 
tEbenezer Wheeler, 
*tEzra Waldo, 
♦tOliver Yeomans, 
tChristopher Lucas, 
t(^aleb Shepard, 
tEbenezer Shaw. 

Taken by the Sheriff. 
Joseph Bisbee, 
Samuel Stanley. 



The following names are marked. Deserted : Sanuel Black- 
man, Gideon Burnham, John Brown, Joel Brooks, Noadiah 
Bronson, John Part, Ephraim Foot, Lot Loveland, Joseph 
Prout, Asahel Hoilister, John Adams. 

The war of the Revolution commenced in 1775, and was 
most vigorously supported by the people of Tolland County, 
particularly by the town of Tolland. Their experience in the 
war of 1755, known as the French war, had made them ac- 
quainted with the trials and hardships of military life, and 
prepared them for the duties of the camp in tlie approaching 
struggle with the mother country. Not only did the town 
furnish its full quota of men and officers for the field, but it 
was also forward in contributing to the relief of those who 
suffered for advocating the principles that led to our national 
independence. The first town meeting touching the difficul- 
ties between the colonies and England was held on the fifth 
day of September, 1774. Ichabod Griggs was chosen moder- 
ator. The following is a copy of the record of that meeting : 

"Voted, That Messrs. Samuel Cobb, Solomon Wills, and- 
Eleazar Steel be the delegates to attend the county meeting 
at Hartford on the loth instant. 



48 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

Voted, That Samuel Cobb Esq., Capt. Solomon Wills, Capt. 
Elijah Chapman and Ensign Elcazer Steel be a committee of 
correspondence for this town, to receive and answer letters 
from the committees of correspondence in the several towns 
of this and tlie other colonies relative to the public contro- 
versy. 

Voted, That Messrs. Stei)hen Day, James Chamberlin,Hope 
Lathrop, Joseph West and Simon Chai)man, be a committee 
to receive and transmit to the towns of Boston and Charles- 
town, such charitable donations as shall be subscribed for the 
use of the poor and necessitous inhabitants of those towns. 

Voted, That the selectmen be empowered and directed by 
the town to procure powder and other ammunition fully to 
supply the town stock, in proportion as the law directs at the 
expense of the town. 

Voted, That a copy of these resolves unanimously agreed 
to, be transmitted to the press ; and the town-clerk be directed 
to forward them." 

The appointment of the committee to receive charitable do- 
nation s for the use of the poor and necessitous of the towns of 
Boston and Charlestown, was not an unmeaning formality, 
but was prompted by that generous sincerity with which 
the people of that age were actuated. The following copy 
of a letter dated Boston, October 24, 1774, about six 
weeks after this appointment, will show the object the town 
had in view, and the efficiency with which the committee dis- 
charged its duties. 

" Gentlemen, This is to acknowledge the receipt of your 
kind and generous donation of ninety-five sheep by the hand 
of our worthy friend Mr. Hope Lathrop which shall be applied 
to the relief of our poor sufierers by means of the cruel and 
oppressive port bill, — according to the intentions of the gen- 
erous donors. We are still struggling under the heavy load 
of tyranny. Our troubles are exceedingly great, but the 
kindness and benevolence of our friends in Tolland, as well 
as other places, greatly refreshes and raises our spirits. You 
may depend upon it, that by divine help and blessing, Boston 
will sufl'er every thing with patience and firmness that a cruel 
and arbitrary administration can inflict upon us, even to the 
loss of fortune and life, rather than submit in any one instance 
to the power of tyranny. We trust we have a righteous 
cause, and that the Supreme Ruler of the Universe will in 
his own time and way, arise and scatter the dark clouds that 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 49 

at present hang over us. We submit to him and ask your 
prayers at the throne of grace for us. The sincere thanks of 
this committee in behalf of this greatly distressed and injured 
town are hereby presented to our worthy friends in Tolland, 
for their kind assistance in this our day of trial. We are 
with great esteem, gentlemen, your friends and fellow coun- 
trymen. 

Henry Hill, per order of the committee of Donations." 

Nor did the liberality of the town cease on the commence- 
ment of hostilities, nor was it confined to direct drafts upon 
its own treasury for the support of the soldiers of the war 
and their families. The following document, copied from the 
original in the office of the town clerk, is evidence that the 
town was ever ready to do its part in relieving sufferers under 
all circumstances. 

" Tolland, Dec. 21, 1781. Eec'd of the Selectmen of the 
town of Tolland in hard money £3.14.6; (112.42 ;) States 
money with the Interest — £3.12.1, (112.01 ;) as a donation 
from said town for the relief of the suffering inhabitants of 
New London and Groton, agreeable to a late brief issued by 
his Hon. the Governor. 

Stephen Steel, Town Treas'r." 

When it is remembered that the massacre at Fort Gris- 
wold, in the town of Groton, and the burning of New Lon- 
don took place on the 6th day of September, 1781, we can 
not entertain any doubt as to the cause of the sufferings which 
this donation, amounting to twenty-four dollars, forty-five 
cents, was intended to relieve. 

Under date of December 19, 1774, the town '^ voted that 
the selectmen do immediately double the town stock of ammu- 
nition at the town expense." On the same day, they " voted 
that Samuel Cobb Esq., Capt. Elijah Chapman, Ensign Elea- 
zar Steel, Capt. Solomon Wills and Samuel Chapman Esq., 
shall be a committee of observation for effectual putting in 
execution the doings of the continental Congress, expressed 
in the ninth article of the association and directed in the 
eleventh article of said association." 

All these proceedings were preliminary to the commence- 
ment of hostilities, which event occurred at Lexington, Mass., 
April 19, 1775. When the news of this transaction reached 
7 ' 



60 



THE EARLY HISTORY OP TOLLAND. 



Tolland, a company of men was immediately formed from 
this and several neighboring towns, which, under the com- 
mand of Capt. Solomon Wills, served in Col. Spencer's regi- 
ment at Roxbury, near Boston, from May 1, to December 1, 
1775, a period of eight months. The following is a copy of the 
roll of this company, kept Ijy Comfort Carpenter, its orderly 
sergeant, and filed by him in the Pension Office as evidence 
of his service in the war of the revolution, with his applica- 
tion for a pension, under the act of June 7, 1832. 



•Solomon Wills, Capt., Amasa Buck, / Jv — — J*Samuel Benton, 



Jona. Parker, 1st Lieut. Elijah Bradley, 
Samuel Felt, 2d •' *Jonathan BurrOug.h, 
Noah Chapiu, En.sign, Josiah Bradley,-'* 
*Com. Cariienter, Serg., *.To.«iali Benton, \ 
Abel Parker, " *Jonathan Benton-j 

Jacob Orcutt, " *Azariah Benton, 

Noah Oooley, " Asa Baldwin, 

*Heman Baker, Jr. " Jacob Brown, 2d, 
Jonah Brown, " Nathan Carpenter, 

*Elij'h Chapman, Corp. Eliphalet Cushnian, 
Asa Fenton, " *Uichmond Crandal, 

Matthew Buel. " *John Carlton, 
*Luke Washburn, " *David Carlton, 
*Samuel Steel, '' *Richard Carlton, 

*Jas. Steel, Jr , Drum'r *Ebenezer Cook, 
*Joel Stimson, Fifer, John Charter, 



Elias Newton, 

Privates. 
Amasa Allen, 
*John Abbott, 
Moses Amadou, 
Jude Brown, 
Jacob Brown, 
Alexander Brown, 



Charles Day, 
*Edward Dimock, 
William Elmer, 
Adonijah Fenton, 
John Furman, 
*Isaac Fellows, 
Cliristopher Frantz, 
Simeon Griswold, 



*Ebenezer Grant, 
♦John Huntington, 
*David Ilinckle}', 
Ezra Holmes, 
*Abner Hatch, 
*Dan Hatch, 
Levi Hamlin, 
Nathan Jennings, 
Samuel Johnson, 
Caleb Johnson, 
Daniel Johnson, 
Daniel Kibbee, 
James Kibbee, 
Bildad Kibbee, 
John Lewis, 
Edward Lawrence, 
Andrew Miner, 
Caleb Orcutt, 
John Orcutt, 
Peter Pinney, 
Abner Pease, 
*llufus Price, 
Moses Pelton, 
Joshua Parks, 



*Tyrus Preston, 
*Ammi Paulk, 
Nathan Koot, 
Joseph Root, 
Jeremiah Rider, 
Daniel Kice, 
Stephen Bice, 
John Scripter, 
*Perez Steel, 
John Shurtliff, 
Elisha Stebbins, 
Isaiah Sparks, 
Simeon Stimson, 
Jeremiah Sparks, 
*Nehemiah Saljin, 
Joseph Sexton, 
Elijah Sexton, 
*IIenry Stevens, 
Stephen Taylor, 
Justus Thompson, 
Samuel Wright, 
*Jabez West, 
*Elijah Washburn, 
Noah Whipple. 



Those who have been ascertained with certainty to have 
gone from Tolland are marked *, but it is known there were 
more. The pumber on the roll are — officers and musicians, 
eighteen ; privates, eighty. Total, ninety-eight. The names 
indicate that the men were from Tolland, Somers, Stafford, 
Willington, and Coventry. Arrangements for enlisting were 
made in Tolland and men engaged on the day the news of the 
battle of Lexington reached the place. It is known that other 
persons from Tolland were at Roxbury, but were either tem- 
porary substitutes, or in other companies ; among them were 
Joshua Griggs and Solomon Eaton. Thirty-four are known 
as belonging in Tolland, which town was ascertained the pre- 
vious year to contain twelve hundred and forty-seven white, 
and fifteen black inhabitants. The last survivor of the Tol- 
land men on the roll was Capt. Ammi Paulk, who died in 
1843. Moses Pelton was from Somers, and the next year 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 51 

t^hen the Americans retreated from New York, he was killed 
by a cannon ball from the British shipping. 

On the first day of April, 1777, the town voted to furnish 
the families of men who would enlist into the continental ser- 
vice, with provisions and other necessaries, and appointed 
Capt. James Chamberlin, Lieut. Stephen Day, and Ensign 
Eleazar Steel, a committee for that purpose. The town also 
voted to present to eacl; soldier that should so enlist, a bounty 
of ten pounds in money, (thirty-three dollars and thirty-three 
cents ;) one-half to be paid at the end of one year from April 
1, 1777, and the other half at the end of the second year: 
" Provided the Honorable Assembly shall not raise money for 
the purpose ; but if the Assembly shall add to the soldiers 
bounty or wages, the sum of ten pound';, then the town is 
quit and free from this vote and obligation aforesaid ; and if 
the assembly shall add any part of said sum of ten pounds 
to the soldiers [bounty or pay,] as aforesaid, then it is to be 
understood to be in part pay of said sum of ten pounds to be 
given as aforesaid." It appears by the other proceedings that 
these enlistments were to be for three years or during the war. 
From the record of the Committee of Payables, under date 
of July 16,1787, 1 find the vote of April, 1777, was responded 
to, and the bounty of ten pounds therein named, was paid to 
the following persons, viz. : 

William Johnson, William Sowle, Joseph Cogswell. Andrew Miner 

Solomon Eaton, Simon Stimson, Elijah Haskell, Tyrus Preston! 

Ebenezer Brown, Joseph Sparks, Richard Carlton, Nehemiah Sabin, 

Isaac Squier, Jonathan Luce, Jacob Haskell, Andrew Peterson 

John P. Burrows, Clement Miner, Elijah Benton, Ehhu Johnson, ' 

Abel Crandall, Brisley Harris, George Hubbard, Ebenezer Stebbins. 

Ammi Paulk, William Huntington, Elias Newton, 

Twenty-seven in all, who received X270. Solomon Eaton, 
the last known survivor, died in Tolland in September, 1843. 
The above-named men belonged to Capt. Ichabod Hinckley's 
company, and formed a part of the second Connecticut Regi- 
ment. There is a roll of Capt. Hinckley's company still 
extant, from which the following names are copied. Those 
marked *, were from Tolland : 

*Capt. I. Hinckley, Corp. Nehemiah Sabin, *Martin Davis,/ »Abel Crandal, 

♦Lieut E Chapmm, *Jonathan Luce, *U"illiam Huntington, *John P. Burroughs 

*Lieut. Rufus Price, *Klihu Johnson, *\Villiam Joliiison, *\Villiam Sowle ' 

*Dr. Jeremiah West, *Tyrus Prestnn, *Solomon Eaton, *Shubacl Dimick 

Serj. Eben'r Stebbins, *Andrew Peterson, Ebenezer Brown, *Edv Hatch, ' 

*Serj. Ammi Paulk, *Elias Newton, Isaac Squier, *Simon Stimson, 



52 THE EARLY HISTORY OP TOLLAND. 

•Jonathan Delano, John Crandall, Joseph Sparks, David Pierce, 

•Clement Miner, *George Hubbard. Amos Harris, Roswell Miner. 

•Jacob Uaskell, *Elijah Benton, *Kichard Carlton, 

On the 23d of September, 1777, the town " voted to comply 
with the resolve of the Governor and Council of this State, in 
providing articles of clothing for the soldiers in the continen- 
tal army belonging to the town." The following persons were 
appointed a committee for that purpose : 

Samuel Cobb, E.sq., Hope Lathrop, Daniel Edgerton, Elijah Yeomans, 

Capt. E. Ohapman,sen., Adoniram Grant, Eleazar Uammond, Jr., Lieut. David Jewett, 

" Jas. Chamberlin, Samuel Nye, Shubael Dimiek, Elnathan Strong, 

" Stephen Steel, Kufus Price, Titus Baker, Samuel Ladd, 

" Stephen Day, Elias HolbroDk, Eleazar Steel. Jonathan Ladd. 

" Stephen Stimson, John Palmer, George Nye, 29 in all. 

Col. Solomon Wills, Jabez Bradley, Azariah Pest, 

Eleazar Kingsbury, Amos James, John Steel, 

December 8, 1777. Aaron Woodward, John Tyler, John 
Steel, and Joseph West, were chosen a committee to provide 
for the families of non-commissioned officers and soldiers 
belonging to the continental army from Tolland, for the year 
ensuing. 

January 1, 1778. Under this date I find the following 
vote : " Voted, that we accept and approve the articles of 
confederation drawn up by the Congress of the United States ; 
and do view them as a well-formed plan of confederation and 
perpetual union. Voted nem. con." 

In making provision for the soldiers of the revolution, it 
became necessary to have a deposit for military stores, and on 
the 28th day of December, 1778, Elias Holbrook was appointed 
to take care of the military stores belonging to the town. 

Hope Lathrop and Benoni Shepard were on the 28th day 
of June, 1779, appointed a committee " to provide clothing for 
the officers and soldiers in the continental army belonging in 
Tolland ; " and the selectmen were empowered " to settle with 
the committee appointed to provide such clothing and pay 
them therefor." 

The war had now continued about five years, and the issue 
was still doubtful. The credit of the government had depre- 
ciated, and the circulating medium of the country had become 
nearly worthless. The army began to complain as well for 
tlie non-payment of its wages as the worthlessness of the cur- 
rency in which it was paid. It was impossible to find men 
willing to leave their families for the continental service, with- 
out further guarantees that their services should be fairly 



The early history op tolland. 63 

compensated. The town of Tolland was required to furnish 
sixteen men for the continental army for the year 1780, 
besides its quota of cavalry. In order to obtain this number 
by voluntary enlistment, the town, on the 26th day of June, 
1780, voted that the wages of forty shillings per month should 
be kept good, and made up to each effective man belonging to 
the town who should enlist to serve until the last day of the 
then next December in the Connecticut line of the continental 
army; in wheat at four shillings per bushel; rye at three 
shillings per bushel, and Indian corn at two shillings per 
bushel. And as a further encouragement the town voted to 
pay each man that should so enlist, the sum of thirty shillings, 
lawful money, on the first day of January then next. By the 
same vote they extended the benefit of the same allowance to 
such effective men as should enlist into the cavalry to serve 
in the continental army the same time. On the fifth day of 
July, 1780, they offered the same benefit to such as should 
voluntarily enlist for three months, except the bounty, which 
was fifteen shillings instead of thirty — and to be paid January 
1, 1781. The following persons received the bounty of thirty 
shillings in silver, voted July 5, 1780, to wit : Samuel Steel, 
Lot Burgess, Aaron Delano, Sylvanus Gage, Eleazar Hatch, 
William Johnson, Ezra Rawdon, Andrew Steel, Zadock Ben- 
ton, Samuel Chase, Hezekiah Huntington, Samuel Reed, 
Manoah Crowell, Clement Miner, Luther Delano, and Solo- 
mon Loomis. They were in the second Connecticut Regi- 
ment, and served in Capt. Ichabod Hinckley's company, except 
Samuel Steel and Luther Delano, who died before the term 
of service expired. Samuel Reed, who died in Tolland in 
July, 1851, at the age of ninety-one, was the last survivor of 
the above, and the last revolutionary soldier in Tolland. 

The same year, 1780, Benjamin Kimball, Charles Stearns, 
Ichabod West, Titus Hammond, Jacob Benton, and Joel Cran- 
dal, (six in all,) performed a tour of duty of three months. 
Jacob Benton died in Tolland in June, 1843. 

These several obligations made it necessary for the town to 
provide means to discharge them, and many expedients were 
resorted to, to sustain the plighted faith of the town. Taxes 



54 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

payable in provisions as well as money, were laid ; and such 
taxes as would frighten the tax payers of modern times. The 
Assembly had voted a tax of sixpence on the pound, payable 
in provisions, but it would seem that this tax was not fully 
paid, or was insufficient for the purpose. The town, therefore, 
on the 18th day of November, 1780 : 

" Voted to raise a rate of one shilling on the list given in last 
year, for the purpose of raising the town's quota of provisions 
for the army and navy, to be paid in silver or g'old, by the 
15th of January next. Provided the inhabitants of this town 
or any of them, should not pay sixpence on the pound as the 
law directs in provisions. But in case they or as many of 
them as shall pay and deliver in provisions said sixpence on 
the pound to the receivers of provisions in this town accord- 
ing to law at the stated price and produce receipt therefor 
from said receivers, shall be discharged from said tax or vote." 

Eleazar Steel and Medad Hart were appointed receivers of 
provisions for the town. 

It became difficult to obtain a sufficient number of persons 
to make up the quota of the town iii the continental army by 
voluntary enlistment, so many of its men being already 
enlisted either for a long stated term or during the war. Not- 
withstanding the encouragement the town had from time to 
time given, they were compelled to resort to such compulsory 
measures as should enable them to meet the demand. One 
mode adopted was, to divide the inhabitants of the town into 
classes and require each class to furnish one man. At the 
town meeting held on the 13th day of November, 1780, Col. 
Solomon Wills, Eleazar Kingsbury, Stephen Stimson, Benoni 
Shepard, Elijah Chapman, Hope Lathrop, and Miner Hilliard, 
were appointed a committee to class the inhabitants of the 
town for the purpose of furnishing its quota for the continen- 
tal army. January 10, 1781, Ashbel Chapman and Jabez 
West were appointed a committee to provide clothing for the 
soldiers. February 9, 1781, Col. Solomon Wills, Hope La- 
throp, Capt. Elijah Chapman, Capt. Benjamin Norris, and 
Samuel Ladd, were chosen a committee to enlist live men to 
join a regiment and go to Horseneck for one year's service. 
They were empowered to divide the town into five classes, pro- 



THE EAELY HISTORY OP TOLLAND. 55 

vided they could not hire the men by the 19th of the month. 
It appears that the committee could not hire them within the 
time specified, and they made a report of their classification 
of the town to an adjourned meeting held on the twenty-first 
of the same month, which was accepted and estabhshed. The 
town also voted to pay to each of the five classes, twelve pounds 
in silver money, ($40.00,) immediately upon their procuring 
a man for the class to enlist into tlie State service for one 
year. The following persons were hired by the classes, and 
received the bounty of twelve pounds each, promised in the 
vote : 

William Barnard, John HaskeU, Noali Johnson, Walter Holmes 

Abner Squier. ^ — ' 

On the 25th day of February, 1792, the town voted to " raise 
five men for the service at Horseneck, by a rate on the town at 
large." Simon Chapman, Col. Solomon Wills, John Steel, 
Medad Hunt, and Capt. Ichabod Hinckley, were appointed a 
committee to hire the men. The selectmen were empowered 
and directed to pay this committee the sums of money that 
they were " obliged to give the recruit as bounty for encour- 
aging [engaging] in the service out of the town tax granted 
in December previous." In this instance, instead of determin- 
ing the bounty themselves, the town left it to the discretion 
of this committee. There was some difterence of opinion in 
regard to the number of men Tolland ought to furnish for 
the continental service; and at the meeting last-mentioned, 
the town appointed Col. Solomon Wills a committee to wait 
on the county committee and adjust the matter, as well as that 
relating to the year's men at Horseneck. Under the vote of 
February 25, 1782, as above, the following persons were 
engaged to serve one year at Horseneck, and each received 
twelve pounds bounty, viz. : William Barnard, John Haskell, 
Charles De Wolf, Abner Johnson, and Edy Hatch. 

In 1782, the inhabitants of the town were divided into 
twenty-one classes, and procured for the continental army the 
twenty-one men whose names follow : Abel Stimson, Solo- 
mon Eaton, Ichabod West, Ichabod Case, James Covil, Samuel 
Parks and Allen Carpenter, Joshua Simons, Jolin Haskell, 
Moses Coy, Samuel Dimock and Oliver Scott, Eliphalet Kil- 



66 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 



bourn, William Coltrain, Eleazar Hatch, Jonathan Creasy, 
John Diniick, Caleb Thomas, Sylvanus Gage, Reuben Robin- 
son, Joel Barnard and William Eldredge. 

The following document, copied from the original in the 
town clerk's office, is valuable for locating the persons therein 
named : 

" Received of Colonel Samuel Chapman, thirty-nine able- 
bodied men, viz. : Eliab Allen, Thomas Buck, Jr., Lot Bur- 
gess, Zadoc Benton, William Barnard, Samuel Billings, Jed=--_Sv 
ediah Cady, Abner Cady, Samuel Chase, Samuel Davis,, Job 
Davis, Eliab Edson, Israel Furman, Timothy Green, Ede 
Hatch, Walter Holmes, Timothy Herington, Philemon Holt, 
Hezekiah Huntington, William Johnson, Joseph Lamb, Jasper 
Marsh, Henry McNeil, Clement Miner, Benjamin Jones Or- 
cutt, Solomon Parsons, Jeremiah Philips, Samuel Philips, Edy 
Pratt, Charles Pease, Samuel Reed, Sanford Richardson, Ezra 
Rawdon, Joshua Simons, Samuel Taylor, Brodwell Watkins, 
John West, Asa Wood, to answer as part of 

the quota to be furnished by his Regiment to serve in the con- 
tinental army. John P. Wyllis, Capt., 

Hartford, July 6, 1780. Continental Army." 

There is a memorandum on the back of this paper, as fol- 
lows : 



TOLLAND. 


SOMERS. 


STAFFORD. 


Edy Hatch, 


Samuel Davis. 


Charles Wood, 


Samuel Reed, 


Edy Pratt, 


WilUam Washburn. 


William Barnard, 


Job Davis, 


Asa Allen. 


Joshua Simons, 


Thomas Buck, jr.. 




William Johnson, 


Solomon Parsons, 




Luther Delano, 


Jeremiah Phillips, 




Samuel Chase, 


Israel Inman, 




Ezra Rawdon, 


Asa Wood, 




Hezekiah Huntington. 


Charles Pease, 




Abner Johnson, 


Ben. Jones Orcutt, 




Lot Burgess, 


Sanford Richardson, 




Walter Holmes, 


John Archer, 




Clemet Miner, 


Samuel Billings. (13.) 




Samuel Park, 






Zadoc Benton, 






Moses Delano. (16.) 







The following are the names of the officers, citizens of Tol- 
land, who served in the wars previous to the war of the revo- 
lution, viz. : 

Samuel Chapman, Sen., was a captain in the war of 1745. 

Samuel Chapman, Jr., was a captain in the war of 1755. 

Samuel Huntington was an ensign in the war of 1755. 

Solomon Wills was an ensign in the war of 1755 ; and 
Lieutenant commanding a company in the expedition to Cuba, 
1762. 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 57 

Probably there were several others who can not be now 
identified. 

The following named persons, citizens of Tolland, were oflfi- 
cers in the army of the Revolution, viz. : 

Samuel Chapman, Colonel of the twenty-second Regiment 
of militia, from May, 1775, to May, 1792. His regiment was 
at New York in the year 1770, and performed a tour of duty 
of two months. He was in the service at other times. 

Solomon Wills was Colonel during several tours of duty, 
either of State or Continental troops. 

Ichabod Hinckley was a captain in the continental line. 

Elijah Chapman (afterwards sheriff) was a captain in the 
continental line ; and a part of the time in Lafayette's light 
infantry. 

James Chamberlin was a captain of cavalry two campaigns. 

Amos Fellows commanded one of the Tolland companies at 
New York. 

Lieut. Lathrop, of the militia, was in active service. 

Ichabod Griggs, ensign of the Tolland militia, campaign at 
New York. 

Joshua Griggs, adjutant. His services were principally at 
Roxbury, New York and Saratoga. 

There were two companies of militia in Tolland in 1776, 
both of which were in Col. Samuel Chapman's regiment at 
New York. But at this time only the names of the officers 
above given can be ascertained. 

The following are the names of the persons, citizens of Tol- 
land, who died in the various wars prior to the close of the 
revolutionary war in 1783 : 

Samuel Chapman, Sen., Captain, died at Louisburgh, Jan- 
uary, 1746. 

Samuel Baker died in captivity among the French and 
Indians. 

Azariah Wills died during his return from captivity, Novem- 
ber, 1758, aged 25. 

William Benton died at Oswego in 1760, aged 35. 

Samuel Huntington, Ensign, died at Lake Oneida, August 
18, 1760, aged 32. 



58 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND, 

Constant Crandall died at Havana, Cuba, August 2T, 1762. 

Noah Stimson, do. Sept. 13, 1762, M 20. 

Jonathan Burroughs, do. " 7, " 

Wm. Eaton, son of William, do. Oct. 18, " ^30. 

John Barnard, son of Dr. Thos., do. " 

John Burrows, do. " 

Aaron Eaton, do. " 

Judah Hatch, son of Ichabod, do. " ^42. 

Oliver Yeomans, do. " 

Ezra Waldo, do. " 

Leonard Grover, do. " 

Reuben Heath, son of Isaac Heath, died at Roxbury, Mass., 
September, 1775, aged 20. 

A Mr. Scott, of Tolland, died at New York in 1776, before 
the city was evacuated. 

Ichabod Griggs, Ensign, died at New Rochelle, N. Y., Sep- 
tember 30, 1776. 

Moses Barnard, son of Dr. Thomas, died at New Rochelle, 
October 15, 1776. 

Azariah Benton, son of Daniel, died iu a prison ship near 
New York, December 29, 1776, aged 22. 

Amos Fellows, Captain, died in captivity in New York, 
February 17, 1777. 

William Hatch, son of Joseph, Jr., died at Chatham, New 
Jersey, March 26, 1777, aged 30. 

John Lathrop, son of John, was killed by a sabre cut at 
Horseneck, December 10, 1780, aged 18. 

Heman Baker, Jr., died of small pox, at East Hartford, on 
his way from captivity. 

Samuel Steel died in 1780. 

Luther Delano died in 1780. 

Aaron Steel, son of James, died in New Jersey. 

Amos Cobb, son of Samuel Cobb, M. D., was killed at the 
White Plains. 

The above are collected from the records. It is known 
there were many others, particularly at New York in 1776, 
but their names can not be ascertained. 

Itis impossible to estimate with accuracy the number of men 



THE EARLY HISTORY OP TOLLAND. 59 

belonging in Tolland who served in the army of the revolution. 
The quotausually assigned to it was from sixteen to twenty-one. 
I understand this did not include those who served in the 
cavalry. There can be no doubt that the town constantly 
had no less tl\an twenty-five men in ihe field, besides those 
who served in what were called the short levies, and when 
the entire military force of the town went on some alarm or 
emergency. Nearly twenty can be enumerated as having 
gone from the present limits of the fifth school district ; and 
probably more than one hundred and fifty persons, residents 
of Tolland, comprising nearly every man of suitable age and 
strength, participated in that struggle by marching against 
the enemy. Several persons were in the field during almost 
the entire war, among whom Capt. (afterwards Gen.) Elijah 
Chapman, Jonathan Luce, Isaac Fellows, Solomon Eaton, and 
Elihu Johnson are remembered. Several times almost the 
entire active male population was absent in the army, and 
ordinary work upon the farms was done by female hands. 
Elderly ladies sometimes spoke of their share of it in earlier 
life, as if it was among their most interesting recollections. 
I have heard a venerable lady, daughter of one of the revo- 
lutionary officers of Tolland, relate that she, assisted by her 
younger sisters, frequently yoked the oxen, and harvested 
the autumnal crops with their own Iiands. These necessary 
out of door duties had not the effect of producing masculine 
habfts in those who engaged in them, or in making them less 
useful and agreeable in their proper sphere. In the instance 
above alluded to, they detracted nothing from the eminent 
social refinement and feminine graces of the individuals 
spoken of. 

Although Tolland furnished its full proportion of men in 
the revolutionary contest, and although so many of them 
peri*shed in the service, yet I have not been able to ascertain 
either by record or traditionary evidence, that any were slain 
in battle, except Amos Cobb and John Lathrop, before refer- 
red to. The record of John Lathrop's death, in the town- 
clerk's office, is as follows : " John, the son of John Lathrop, 
and Lucy his wife, departed this life December the 10th day, 



60 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

1780, b}' the sword of the enemy at Horseneck." He was 
under eighteen years of age, and Avas strnck dead by a blow 
on the head with a sabre, by a dragoon. Col. Solo. Wills, to 
whose wife Mr. Lathrop was nephew, assisted in wrapping 
him in his blanket and laying him in the grave of the soldier. 

Nor is there now any evidence that any Tolland soldier 
received any dangerous wound, or so severe an one as to 
occasion his dimissal from the service. 

Several kinds of domestic manufacture were attempted in 
Tolland in the revolution. Linen cloth was then made in 
families from flax, and exelusivel}^ used for summer clothing. 
There was a family named Morey who lived at the south end 
of the village street, near the residence of the late Jeremiah 
Parish, Esq., who used to print this home-made linen for 
ladies' dresses. The cloth being first whitened, was then 
impressed with figures engraved on a thin board very similar 
in size to the hand-cards used in those days — the impression 
being entirely done by hand. The only color distinctly rec- 
ollected was a dark brown. It is much to be regretted that 
none of this cloth or the stamps have been preserved as most 
interesting revolutionary relics. 

There was also an attempt to manufacture molasses from 
green corn-stalks, ground in a common cider mill, and pressed 
like pomace of apples. The particular mill used for this pur- 
pose stood just back of the site on which was afterward built 
the house in which Col. Elijah Smith kept a tavern for l#,lf a 
century. 

In the south-west part of the town resided Mr. Titus Baker, 
a blacksmith, and his brother, Mr. Joseph Baker, who pos- 
sessed great natural ingenuity in the mechanical arts. In 
the scarcity of muskets, they contrived to manufacture a 
number, (it is not known how many,) which, though clumsy 
and heavy, were reputed to be serviceable weapons. The 
makers estimated that the labor bestowed on one of them 
amounted to the time of one man a fortnight. 

During the war there were several instances in Avhich Brit- 
ish prisoners were sent to Tolland for support and safe keep- 
ing. In the year 1781, when the progress of the war in the 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 61 

South rendered it necessary to remove the arm}'- of Burgoyne 
from Virginia, where they were sent for cantonment after 
their surrender, many of them were removed into Connecti- 
cut. Companies of Hessians were quartered on the prem- 
ises of Col. Wills, lately the property of Jonas Green ; also 
at the house now occupied by Theodore Chapin. At one time, 
two Hessian officers had a dispute and arranged for a duel, 
which was only prevented by the assurance that in case of 
the death of either, our laws would in due season, without 
fail, send the survivor after him. 

A party of English officers were lodged in tlie house of 
Deacon Elijah Chapman, (now occupied by Daniel Chapman,) 
and were there while Yorktown was besieged, and a son of 
Dea. Chapman was a captain of Lafayette's Light Infantry 
employed in that siege. These officers were always repre- 
sented by those who remembered them, as making a splendid 
appearance, and as being very courteous and gentlemanly in 
their limited intercourse with the inhabitants of the neigh- 
borhood. 

In concluding the general subject of the revolution, it 
should be 'remarked that there were no tories in Tolhmd. 
With the exception of two or three odd, crusty, eccentric 
men, who generally opposed what others approved, and who 
being in the main respectable persons, whose whimsical oppo- 
sition was generally amusing, there was entire unanimity in 
Tolland from the first manifestation of opposition to the 
tyranny of England until the final establishment of American 
Independence. 

Most of the citizens of Tolland who were conspicuous in 
the war of the Revolution were the descendants of tlic first 
settlers. Among these, the name of Chapman is prominent. 
They were the descendants of Simon Chapman, who was one 
of the original proprietors of the town. He lived in Wind- 
sor and owned several tracts of land in Tolland, but his son 
Samuel, (the progenitor of all of the name in the western 
P2,rt of tlic town,) settled, about the year 1725, on a tract of 
about forty acres, lying south of a pond called Shenipset 
pond, deeded to him by John Huntington, of Tolland. To 



62 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

this tract lie made great additions from adjacent lands, and 
his sons still more, until the three brothers, besides out-fields, 
owned a tract extending two miles or more from south-east 
to north-Avest, though of less, but irregular breadth. It was 
not until about thirty-live years ago that this tract, on which 
were eight houses, seven of which were of first-class size, and 
all inhabited by families of the name, began to crumble away 
and fall into the possession of others. Capt. Samuel Chap- 
man, the first settler, (whose decease at Louisburgh has been 
mentioned,) was grandson of Mr. Edward Chapman, who came 
from England, settled in Simsbury, and lost his life at the 
storming of Xarraganset Fort in December, 1675."- He was the 
only justice of the peace in Tolland for nine years, and was for 
eleven years a selectman. Very reliable tradition speaks of 
him as possessing many estimable qualities, among which was 
that of being an excellent neighbor. He first lived in ahouse 
situated above the entrance of the road that runs south from 
the fifth district school-house. He then built the house now 
owned and occupied by Mr. Oliver Eaton, and which, though 
nearly one hundred and twenty years old, is still in good re- 
pair and elegant condition — promising fair to outlive the 
present century. 

Capt. Samuel Chapman had three sons and five daughters, 
all of whom married and settled in Tolland. The sons be- 
came the wealthiest men in the town, and until superannuated, 
were among the most active, influential, public-spirited citi- 
zens. 

Samuel, eldest son of Capt. Samuel Chapman, was a very 
eminent citizen, and a very remarkable man. He was a cap- 
tain in the French war, and colonel of the twenty-second 
regiment of Connecticut militia during the entire war of the 
revolution. He was at New York with his regiment in 1776, 
and when the American forces evacuated that city, his regi- 
ment, stationed near Kip's bay, with the brigades of Parsons 
and Fellows, animated by their colonel, did not participate in 
the shameful panic of the American troops on that occasion, 
but made an orderly and honorable retreat. He was also in 
several other tours of duty ; his personal courage and aston- 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 63 

isliing- hardihood were proverbial among his soldiers. His 
frame and nerves seemed as if made of iron, (for example, he 
never wore mittens in the coldest weather,) and such was his 
mental temperament, that disasters which would discourage 
even superior minds, only aroused his undaunted spii-it to 
more fearless action. Few men could be found so unflinch- 
ing in moments of danger ; and his firmness and energy never 
faltered under any circumstances. The almost unexampled 
number of times he was elected a member of the General 
Assembly, exhibits the regard in which he was held by his 
townsmen ; his was the master spirit that brought the citizens 
of Tolland into unanimous and energetic action in the revo- 
lutionary contest. Col. Chapman was one of the most wealthy 
men of Tolland, carried on a large business besides farming ; 
would give employment to a poor man who wanted work, 
regardless of advantage to himself ; and even embarrassed his 
estate by becoming responsible for the debts of the unfortu- 
nate. 

In person, Col. Chapman was rather under the middle stat- 
ure, with blue eyes, and his voice was remarkable for its loud- 
ness and energy. He was what is called a great reader, was 
rather taciturn, and of studious habits. He never laughed, 
and a smile seldom lighted up his austere countenance. 

Col. Chapman was born in Windsor, a few years previous to 
his father's settlement in Tolland ; and occupied during his 
life the house before-mentioned as built by his father. He 
died March, 1803, aged 83 years, regardless to the last of 
inclemency of weather or his own personal comfort. He was 
found dead in his bed. Such was his apparent health and 
uncomplaining habits, that the disease which occasioned his 
death, was only a matter of conjecture. 

Col. Samuel Chapman married Sarah White, of Bolton, 
September 20, 1750. 

Their children, five in number, were : 

Ruth, born October 9, 1751. 

t-arah, " January 15, 1753. ^ 

Samuel, " April 10, 1755, died July 1.5, 1756. 

Samuel, " Augast 18, 1757; settled in Ellington. 

Eliakim Chapman, the youngest son of Col. Samuel Chap- 
man, married Roxalana, daughter of Col. Solomon Wills, who 



6-i THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

' died November 24, 1783, after which he married Nancy, the 
sister of his first wife. He had several children, one of whom, 
Mrs. Joseph Bishop, is a resident of Tolland. He always 
resided on his father's farm, was a colonel of militia, repre- 
sentative in the General Assembly, selectman, and a nscfnl 
citizen. 

Elijah, second son of Capt. Samnel Chapman, married 
Sarah Steel, daughter of Rev. Stephen Steel, of Tolland, May 

28, 1747. He died aged — years. She died 

Their children, twelve in number, of whom eleven lived to 
maturity, and most of them to old age, were : 

Joanna, boru Mny 16, 1748. 

Reuben, " December 8. 1749. 

Sarah, " July 23, 1752, died in infancy. 

Elijah. " July 13, 17.53. 

Ashbel. " June 28. 1755. 

Sarah, " April 1, 1757. 

Ruth, " i'ebruarv 20, 1759 

Esther, " April 8, 1761. 

Roxana, '• November 14. 1763. 

Aaron, " September 17, 1765. 

Dorcas, " September 25, 1767. 

Daniel, " September 23, 1769. 

Of the sons, Reuben, the oldest, married Mary, daughter of 
Doct. Samuel Cobb, April 21, 1774, and died October 25, 
1776, of consumption, occasioned by hardships suffered while 
in the revolutionary army, leaving only one child — a son 
named Solomon, who was born July 3, 1775; whose grand- 
children still occupy the lands of their forefathers. 

Elijah, second son of Dea. Elijali Chapman, — captain in the 
revolutionary army, sheriff of Tolland county, &c., received 
an extended notice in the History of Tolland County, published 
in the Tolland County Record, which it is unnecessary to 
repeat here. He married Sarah Keeler, of Ridgefield, a lady 
of unusual worth, and his home and place of his death 
was in a house (now owned hy John Doyle,) which he built on 
the land of his ancestors. He was the father of Elijah Chap- 
man, first cashier of Tolland County Bank, who united an 
unusual elegance of manners with an excellent character, and 
who died at Akron, Ohio, in 1849, aged fifty-nine years. 

AsHBEL, third son of Dea. Elijah Chapman, married Miss 
Lord, of Marlborough, and continued through life on lands 
received from his father. His sons were : Col. Ashbel Chap- 
man, lately of Tolland, deceased, who always resided on the 



THE EAELY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 65 

paternal acres ; Col. Carlos Chapman, now of Windsor Locks; 
and Col. John B. Chapman, late of Warehonse point, deceased. 

Aaron, fourth son of Dea. Elijah Chapman, resided during 
life in the house built by the first Capt. Samuel Chapman, for 
his son Elijah, father of Aaron, and in which he (Elijah) 
had resided after marriage, all his life, — the same house being 
now owned by Daniel, son of Aaron. Dea. Aaron Chapman 
married a Miss Buel, of Marlborough, and died in December, 
1842, aged seventy-seven years, leaving two sons — Novatus 
and Daniel. 

Simon, youngest son of Capt. Samuel Chapman, married 
Eunice Preston, April 22, 1762. He died in 1823, aged 
ninety — years. 

Their children were : 



Eunice, 


bom 


February 23, 1763. 


Simon, 


" 


June 17, 1764, died December 25, 176 


Henry, 


" 


March 31, 1776, died AprU 11, 1775. 


Simon, 


" 


February 12, 1768. 


Nathan, 


a 


November 5, 1769. 


Hannah, 


a 


August 23, 1773. 



Eunice, wife of Simon Chapman, died April 12, 1775. He 
married for his second wife, LydiaQarlton, of Tolland. Their 
children were : 



Alexander, 


born 


February 14, 1780. 


Jacob, 




August 29, 1782. 


Lydia, 




July 9, 1784, died July 27, 1784. 


Ariel, 




June 24, 1786. 


William, 




April 19, 1789. 


Erastus, , 




April 19, 1792. 


Lydia, 




November 13, 1795. 



Sarah, daughter of Capt. Samuel Chapman, married Na- 
thaniel Kingsbury, March 16, 1737, and died July 14, 1794. 
He died June 23, 1796. Nathaniel Kingsbury was a son of 
Nathaniel Kingsbury, of Coventry, settled in Tolland about 
the time of his marriage, on lands granted to him by his 
father-in-law, and on which his posterity continue to reside. 
Nathaniel Kingsbury was a deacon of the church in Tolland 
many years. The children of Nathaniel and Sarah Kingsbury 
were : 

Hannah, born January 25, 1738. 

Sarah, •' February 15, 1739. 
Three in succession who died in infancy. 

Ruth, born October 7, 1750. 

Nathaniel, " May 5, 1753. 

Jabez, " March 10, 1756. 

Samuel, " February 2, 1763. 

Jabez, son of Nathaniel and Sarah Kingsbury, married 
9 



66 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

Anna Hatch, daughter of Joseph Hatch, 2d, August 15, 
1776. He died March 25, 18-14, aged eighty-eight years. 
His wife died June 12, 1842, aged eighty-three. Their chil- 
dren were : 

Sarah, bom December 18, 1776. 

Mary, " January 1, 1778, died February 7, 1778. 

John, " October 28, 1782. 

Jabez Kingsbury was many years deacon of the Congrega- 
tional church, was a justice of the peace twelve years, was 
six years a selectman, and was elected to the General Assem- 
bly three sessions, discharging his various public and private 
duties with unusual ability. He was one of the few who can 
carry on a very extensive farming business with perfect suc- 
cess, and without noise, hurry, or confusion. 

Col. John Kingsbury, son of Jabez and Anna, married 
Sally Dimock, November 1, 1804. She died December 11, 
1819, aged 37 years. Second wife, Sally Edgerton, November 
1, 1821, who died April 20, 1824. Col. Kingsbury married 
for his third wife, Mary Brigham of Coventry. Their chil- 
dren are : 

John Brigham, born October 1, 1826. 
George Henry, •' November 22, 1828. 

Col. John Kingsbury died in March, 1861, aged seventy- 
eight years. 

Ruth, daughter of Capt. Samuel Chapman, married Elea- 
zar Steel, as before stated in the notice of the Steel family. 

Hannah, daughter of Capt. Samuel Chapman, married 
Stephen Steel, Jr., as also previously noticed. 

Margaret, daughter of Capt. Samuel Chapman, married 
Samuel Ladd, April 28, 1768, and died February 14, 1813. 
He died May 18, 1814. Their children were : 

Ruth, born January 18, 1769. 

Samuel, " May 11, 1770. 

Margaret, " October 8, 1772. 

Mary, " November 28, 1775. 

Wareham, " April 28, 1778. 

Jacob, " December 14, 1781. 

Mary, daughter of Capt. Samuel Chapman, married Solo- 
mon Loomis — the date I can not find. She died February 
24, 1774, aged forty-two years. Their children were : 

Simon, born March 7, 1758. 

Solomon, " September 27, 1760. 

Luke, " April 11, 1764, died April 27. 

Epaphras, " September 10, 1768. 



THE EAELY HISTORY OP TOLLAND. 67 

The Chapman family has been eminently distinguished in 
civil as well as military life. Capt. Samuel Chapman, the 
first settler, was the only justice of the peace in Tolland for 
nine years, holding the office at the time of his death, and 
was selectman eleven years. 

Col. Samuel Chapman was elected to the General Assem- 
bly forty-three times, when the election of members was twice 
a year, and attended at fifteen special sessions of that body. 
He was a member of the convention in January, 1788, and 
voted for the adoption of the present constitution of the 
United States. He was two years selectman, and twenty-six 
years, (from 1772 to 1797,) a justice of the peace, when 
there were but two justices in the town. 

Dea. Elijah Chapman, (also captain of militia,) was four 
times elected to the General Assembly, nnd eight years select- 
man. 

Gen. Elijah Chapman, (captain in the revolutionary army 
and major-general of the militia,) was sheriff of Tolland 
county twenty-three years, and a member of the legislature 
two sessions. For his biography, see county history. 

Capt. Ashbel Chapman was justice of the peace, holding 
the office at the time of his death, selectman three years, in 
the Legislature four years, and was a member of the conven- 
tion in 1818 which formed the present constitution of the 
state, and voted in the affirmative upon the'question of adopt- 
ing that instrument. 

Dea. Aaron Chapman, (of the Baptist church, of which 
he was the deacon, leader, and principal support for many 
years previous to his death,) was a selectman three years. 

Col. Eliakim Chapman was in the General Assembly one 
year, and one year a selectman. 

Simon Chapman, senior, was selectman two years. 
Simon Chapman, Jun., was a captain of militia, a deacon, 
(which title in those days superseded the other,) and four 
years a selectman. 

Col. Ashbel Chapman, son of Ashbel, was representative 
one year, and justice of the peace ten years, holding the office 
at the time of his death. 



68 THE EARLY HISTORY OP TOLLAND. 

Col. Carlos Chapman was selectman one year, representa- 
tive two years, sheriff of Tolland county two years, and four 
years a justice of the peace. 

Novatus Chapman was representative two years, justice of 
the peace four years, selectman three years, sheriff of Tol- 
land county three years, clerk of the courts one year, and 
judge of probate for the district of Tolland four years. 

For nearly seventy years there has been a family of Chap- 
mans in Tolland, distinct in descent from the foregoing, but 
descendants from Robert Chapman, one of the earliest and 
principal settlers of Saybrook. I allude to the late Capt. 
Ezra Chapman, whose residence was in the village of Sknug- 
amug. He was the son of Ezra Chapman, who was an ensign 
of Capt. Horton's company of artificers, in Col. Baldwin's 
regiment in the revolutionary contest, entering the service 
for the war, August 6, 1777, and continuing therein until his 
death, September 1, 1778. His only child — Ezra, of Tolland, 
was born in Hebron, March 26,1773; was apprenticed to 
the trade of a blacksmith, (which was that of his father,) 
and when of age settled in Tolland, where he resided until 
his death, February 18, 1851, at the age of seventy-eight 
years. In the apparent enjoyment of his usual health, and 
while seated at his fireside, he fell into that sleep that knows 
no waking. Capt. Chapman married Lydia M. Whittlesey, 
July 6, 1797, by whom he had four children, two of whom 
still survive, and (with their children and grandchildren,) 
are citizens of Tolland, viz. : Capt. Sherman Chapman, born 
January 23, 1803, and Mary, wife of Ansel S. Barber, born 
March 30, 1805. Mrs. Lydia M. Chapman died December 
14, 1806, and Capt. Chapman married for his second wife, 
Abigail Morgan, May 20, 1809, by whom he had seven chil- 
dren, one of whom, Mrs. Mason Agard, is now a resident of 
Tolland. 

Capt, Ezra Chapman was a man of some prominence. He 
was quite early made captain of a militia company in Tolland, 
was a selectman six years, a justice of the peace six years, 
and a member of the General Assembly two sessions. He 
was a very industrious man, honest and upright in his deal- 



I 



The early history op toll and. 69 

ings, and in every way a worthy citizen. He read more than 
ordinary men, reflected much, and was very happy in ex- 
pressing his ideas upon paper. He had a ready pen in draw- 
ing the ordinary written agreements used among his neighbors, 
and excelled in his epistolary eiforts — many of his letters 
bearing marks of thought and scholarship. 

Wills or Willes. This is one of the names that stand 
prominent among the early settlers of Tolland. Joshua 
Wills was an inhabitant of the town of Windsor. His name 
appears on the petition of the Windsor men for a new town- 
ship, bearing date May 9, 1713, and presented to the General 
Assembly at its ensuing session. It also appears as one of 
the inhabitants of Tolland, on the petition relative to Cov- 
entry lands, presented May session, 1718. 

The following copy of a petition by Joshua Wills, now 
among the archives of the state at Hartford, will give some 
idea of the inhabitants of those times : 

" To the Honorable the Governor and Council sitting at 
Hartford May 25, 1722 : The prayer of Joshua Wills of 
Tolland humbly* sheweth : that your poor petitioner, by the 
holy providence of God, visiting of him with great sickness 
and of long continuance, is reduced to very hard and low 
circumstances in the world : my life is still continued to me, 
through the mercy of God, by my body and my estate brought 
very low through the force of my disease. I have thought it 
my duty to repair of the broken state of my health, but have 
no means that can possibly enable me thereunto. Therefore 
my humble request is that [you] would give me liberty of a 
brief to ask charity from christian friends within places and 
limits as your Honors in your great goodness shall think most 
suitable : and your petitioner as in duty bound shall pray." 

Joshua Wills." 

At this time there was a statute prohibiting applications for 
charitable contributions, without liberty from the governor 
and council, who were to direct in what towns and societies 
such briefs should be used. It does not appear what action 
was had on this petition. 

The necessities of the poor and unfortunate were not in 
those days relieved in this way alone, but they successfully 
sought relief in other ways. The following extract of a letter 



70 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

from Rev. Stephen Mix, of Wetliersfield, to Gov. Talcott, 
dated May 26, 1726, and the action had thereon, will exhibit 
the character of the people of that generation in its true light. 

" We have," he says, " for a considerable time had many 
needy persons, (from the eastern towns principally,) coming 
to us for corn ; and they are still daily coming ; many that 
come — perhaps the generality seem to be sober, well disposed 
persons — showing an honest simplicity and freedom as I 
imagine from the vices, apt to be found in our more populous 
and fuller towns : — This evening I hear more of their straits," 
&c., &c. 

' This letter occupies a page of foolscap paper, closely writ- 
ten. Gov. Talcott forthwith wrote a message to the Assem- 
bly, then in session, on a blank page of this sheet, and for- 
warded the whole for their consideration. A committee was 
appointed of members of each house who made a favorable 
report, and the following resolution was adopted in both 
houses, to wit : 

" May, 1726. This Assembly being informed that there are 
many persons in the towns of Voluntown, A^hford, Willing- 
ton, Stafford, Tolland, and Bolton, which by frost in the year 
past were generally cut short in their crops and thereby are 
reduced to a suffering, almost a perishing condition : — for the 
relief of whom this Assembly orders thirty pounds, (one hun- 
dred dollars,) money to be drawn out of the public treasury 
of this colony and to be delivered to Nathaniel Stanley and 
Ozias Pitkin, who are hereby ordered to send to the several 
ministers or selectmen of said towns except in Willington ; 
and there to send to John Cady and Thomas Jennings, to 
inform said committee of such persons as are in a suffering- 
condition ; and said committee are hereby ordered to propor- 
tion said money to the several towns according to their num- 
ber and necessities ; and said poor persons having a certificate 
from such ministers, selectmen or others as abovesaid, may 
repair to such committee who is hereby ordered to deliver unto 
him or them such support out of the money as they shall see 
fit." 

Joshua Wills was one of the very first persons to whom 
allotments of land were made in the territory afterwards 
named Tolland, on the 6th day of February, 1711 ; and he 
was one of the original grantees in the deed of the committee 



THE EARLY HISTORY OP TOLLAND. 71 

who were authorized and empowered to sell the lands in the 
north part of Tolland. He had a son also named Joshua, 
who was born before Tolland was settled — the name of Joshua 
Wills, Jr., appearing on the petition of May 9, 1713. 

Joshua Wills, Jr., married Melicent Yeomans, November 
9, 1729. She died March 13, 1737. Their children were: 

Solomon, born October 14, 1731. 

Azariah, " June 27, 1733. 

Elizabeth, " May 18. 17a5, died July 2, 1736. 

Melicent, " March ll, 1737, died March 17, 1737- 

Joshua Wills, Jr., married for second wife, Jemima Eaton, 
August 22, 1739. Their children were : 

Elizabeth, born August 14, 1740. 

Joshua, " July 15, 1742. 

Gideon, " February 1, 1743. 

Mehcent, '• January 12, 1747, died November 19, 1750. 

Joshua Wills died August 2, 1767. His widow survived 
to May 3, 1791. Mr. Wills was a captain of the militia com- 
pany ; a member of the General Assembly thirteen regular 
arid four special sessions ; and was selectman thirteen years. 

Solomon Wills, son of Joshua and Melicent Wills, married 
Elizabeth Lathrop, February 24, 1763. She was the daugh- 
ter of John Lathrop, one of the first settlers in Tolland. 
Their children were : 

Azariah, born May 30, 1772, went to Franklin, N. Y. 

Solomon, " January 10, 1775, settled in Penn.sylvania. 

Wareham, " July 27, 1780. do. do. 

Roxalana, " December 3, 1763, first wife of Col. E. Chapman, died November 24, 1780. 

Nancy, " September 3, 1765, second wife of Col. E. Chapman. 

Elizabeth, " November 30, 1767, married Capt. A.shbel Steel. 

MelicenO " September 12, 1769, married Col. Elijah Smith. 

Solomon Wills was very early enrolled in the defense of his 
country. We find his name first as a private soldier in the year 
1756, in the French and Indian war. In 1759 he served as a 
Serjeant, in 1758 as an ensign, in 1759 he was a second lieu- 
tenant, and in 1762 he was first lieutenant commanding the 
ill-fated company that went to Cuba, of whom so few returned. 
In 1775, we find him captain of the volunteer company that 
performed a tour of duty of eight months, near Boston. The 
promptness with which this company was formed and made 
ready for service, speaks well for the character of its com- 
mander. The exciting cause of this movement, was the skir- 
mish at Lexington on the 19th of April ; and this company 
of ninety-eight men were at Roxbury, Mass., and mustered 



72 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

into service on the first day of the following May. When we 
take into consideration the facilities of that day for circu- 
lating news or for traveling, this transaction will look the 
more remarkable. In the campaign of 1776, we find Mr. 
Wills under the command of Gen. Washington, as a Colonel, 
in which capacity he served at different periods during the war 
of the revolution, both in the State and Continental lines. 
Col. Wills was in civil life also, a very active and useful citi- 
zen. He was a selectman of the town three years ; a justice 
of the peac(3» five years ; an Associate Judge of Tolland 
County Court seven years ; a member of the General Assem- 
bly twenty-three sessions. In 1793 he ceased to act in public 
life. He died December 10, 1807, aged seventy-six years. 

Col. Wills is still represented in Tolland by two ladies, his 
lineal descendants, viz. : Mrs. Joseph Bishop and Miss Eliza- 
beth S. Kent ; they being all the descendants of Joshua Wills, 
one of the first settlers, now remaining in Tolland. 

The name of Samuel Huntington appears on the list of 
those who died in the service of their country. He was sec- 
ond son of John Huntington, Esq., one of the original grantees 
of the town of Tolland. John Huntington was from Wind- 
sor ; was one of the petitioners for the town in May, 1713, 
though his name does not appear on the subsequent petitions. 
It is certain that he was of Windsor, January 14, 1719, for on 
that day he took a deed of John Ellsworth of a tract of land 
in Tolland containing three hundred acres. He had also a 
lot of land that was Christopher Huntington's, assigned hiui 
November 26, 1719. It is not certain when he moved to Tol- 
land ; it is certain, however, he became a resident of this 
town before April 16, 1723, as there is a record of his mar- 
riage on that day as follows : "April 16, 1723. Then was 
John Huntington of Tolland married to Thankful Warren of 
Windham." The following is a record of his family : 

Thankful, born March 16, 1724, died July 14, 1739. 

John, " February 22, 1725. 

Samuel, " July 24, 1728. 

Andrew, " September 17, 1730. 

Abigail, " October 1, 1732. 

DeboraQ, " May 21, 1736. 

John Huntington, Esq., died January 26, 1737, aged forty- 
six years. He was the second justice of the peace ever ap- 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 73 

pointed for the town of Tolland, and he was the only justice 
from 1733 to his death. He was commissioned as ensign 
in October, 1723, on the first organization of the militia in 
Tolland ; was one year the town-clerk, and two years select- 
man — departing this life at almost the commencement of his 
public usefulness. Tradition assigns his place of residence on 
the farm now owned and occupied by Dea. Nathan Spalding. 
John, the eldest son of John Huntington, Esq., married 
Mehitabel, daughter of Rev. Stephen Steel, March 23, 1749. 
The following is their family record : 

John, born May 14, 1749. 

Thankful, >• July 23, 1750, died October 29, 1750. 

Mehitabel. " .Tanuarv24, 1752. 

Elisha, " December 17, 1754. 

William, " September 19, 1757. 

Hezekiah, •' December 30, 1759. 

Deborah, " November 21, 1762. 

Samuel, " March 23, 1765. 

Abigail. '• March 29, 1767. 

Ruth, " May 12, 1769. 

Thankful, " October 3, 1771. 

Maria, "• October 27, 1774, died August 3, 1777. 

Samuel, second son of John Huntington, Esq., married 
Jane West, daughter of Deacon Joseph West, December 26, 
1751. He was the Ensign in the French war, and died at 
Lake Onedia, in 1760. His children were : 

Thankful, bom December 24, 1752. 

Jane, " February 22, 1755. 

Diantha, " November 4, 1757, died September 20, 1763. 

Jerusha, " May 1, 1760, died August 5, 1778. 

John, son of John and grandson of John Huntington, Esq., 
married Rebecca Newell, of Ellington, (then East Windsor,) 
February 20, 1783. .Their children were : 

John, born February 26, 1784, died November 18, 1784. 

Mara, " February 12. 1786, died May 18, 1787.' 

John, •' March 7, 1788. 

Frederick Augustus, " July 14. 1790. 

Ephraim Newell, " " March 7, 1792, died Feburary 8, 1793. 

Rebecca, " October 29, 1793. 

Mara, " June 6, 1795. 

Andrew, " March 23, 1798. 

Robert Goodloe, " February 6, 1800. 

Almira, " February 10, 1802. 

Elisha, son of John and grandson of John Huntington, 
Esq., married Esther Ladd, June 16, 1785. Their children 
were: 

Andrew, born January 25, 1786, died February 8, 1786. 

Lucia, '• May 27, 1787. 

Samuel, " May 9, 1789. 

Ambrose, " June 8, 1791. 

Esther, " September 28, 1793. 

EUas, " June 6, 1796. 

AppoUos, " November 14, 1798. 

Nancy, " May 31, 1801. 

Laura, " May 19, 1804. 

Ruth, " December 20, 1806. 

10 



74 THE EAELY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

Hezekiah Huntington, the fourth son of John Huntington 
and his wife Mehitabel Steel, was in the war of the revolu- 
tion. At one time he was* in an armed ship that made a dar- 
ing attempt to escape from New London harbor through the 
British fleet that blockaded the eastern entrance into Long 
Island sound, but the ship was taken, and the most formida- 
ble looking of its men, among them Mr. Huntington, put in 
irons. He was thus conveyed to New York, and confined in 
a prison ship, where his sufferings were such as to injure his 
health during life. He afterwards became an eminent law- 
yer and politician. For many years he was L^nited States 
District Attorney for Connecticut, and died in Middletown at 
an advanced age, leaving children who occupy very promi- 
nent places in society, viz. : Samuel H. Huntington, clerk of 
the court of claims, Washington, D. C, and Hezekiah Hun- 
tington, of Hartford. 

I am not aware that any of the descendants of John Hun- 
tington, Esq., the first settler, are now in Tolland. 

Capt. Ichabod Hinckley was the son of Ichabod Hinckley, 
who came from Barnstable county, Mass., about the year 
1732, and settled on the farm now owned by Nathan Pierson, 
He died May 10, 1768. He was selectman two years. Icha- 
bod Hinckley, Jr., had six children by his first wife, whose 
name was Mary, viz. : Anna, Bethiah, Temperance, Ichabod, 
Benjamin, and Daniel. His wife Mary died January 8, 1769. 
He then married Hannah Kingsbury, daughter of Dea. Na- 
thaniel Kingsbury, for his second wife, December 12, 1769, 
by whom he had four children, viz.: Mary^Hannah, Sarah, 
and Deborah. He was a captain in the continental army, 
and performed several tours of duty, besides being otherwise 
very active in the revolutionary contest. He was twice a 
member of the General Assembly, and fourteen years a select- 
man. People who remembered him used to speak with 
admiration of his integrity and ability as a selectman, and of 
the dignity with which he used to preside in town meetings. 
Capt. Hinckley died February 23, 1807, in his seventy-second 
year. I do not know that any of his descendants are now in 
Tolland. 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 75 

Captain Amos Fellows, of revolutionary memory, was a 
son of Isaac Fellows, who came from Plainfield, in Windham 
county, to Tolland about the year 1745. He married Abi- 
gail Lathrop, daughter of Ichabod Lathrop, and grand- 
daughter of John Lathrop, who was one of the early settlers 
in Tolland. The following were his children, viz. : 

Ruth, born March 27, 1753. 

Ichabod, " March 7, 1754, died March 18. 1759. 

Stephen, " April 17, 1755, died June 29, 1759. 

Isaac, " May 29, 1757. 

Abigail, his wife, died June 25, 1773. 

Capt Fellows is reported to have been at New York in the 
twenty-second regiment, in 1776, where he is said to have 
been taken by the enemy. Certain it is that he was in cap- 
tivity awhile, and was confined in a prison ship, where his 
sufferings were the most cruel, and from which he .found re- 
lief only in the sleep of death. He was said to have been 
a man of intellect, and of great decision and firmness of 
character. His death was considered a great loss to the cause, 
and it was said that had he survived he would have been 
promoted to a very superior grade. He left only two chil- 
dren, one of whom, Isaac, married and remained in Tolland 
to the day of his death. 

Ichabod Griggs, Jr., was an ensign in the war of the revo- 
lution. He was the son of Dea. Ichabod Griggs, who removed 
from Norwich to Tolland about the year 1744, the year in 
which his son Ichabod was born. Dea. Ichabod Griggs was 
representative three sessions, and selectman five years. He 
died May 9, 1790, aged seventy-two years. His children 
were as follows : 

Joshua, born January 8, 1743, at Norwich. 

Ichabod, " June 7, 1744. 

Sarah, '■ June 6, 1749. 

Joshua, eldest son of Dea. Ichabod Griggs, was, like his 
father, a deacon in the church and a very respectable man. 
He was an adjutant in the revolutionary service, and was a 
selectman five years. He married Joanna, daughter of Dea. 
Elijah Chapman, December 11, 1766. Their children were: 



Roswell, born September 23, 1767. 


Joshua, •' 


June 17, 1769. 


Susannah, " 


January 30, 1771. 


Daniel, " 


April 15, 1773 


Charles, " 


August 15, 1775. 


Sarah, " 


September 23, 1777. 


Elijah, " 


September 5, 1780. 


Joanna, " 


September 5, 1783. 



76 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 



Dea. Joshua Griggs died June 9, 1813, aged seventy years. 

RoswELL, eldest son of Dea. Joshua Griggs, married Sarah 
Dunham, of Mansfield, October 27, 1791. The following are 
their children, to wit : 

born 



Mary, 

Sally, 

Minerva, 

Charles, 

Eunice Hovey, 

Elijah Chapman, 

KoswcU Leonard, 

Seth Duuham, 

Parmela I'orter, 

Julia, 

Normand Brigham, 



May 15, 1792. 

March 5, 1794. 

August 6, 1796, married Doct. 0. K. Isham, November 12, 1822. 

April 14, 1799. 

August 27, 1801. 

September 5, 1803, died January 23, 1806. 

March 11, 1806, died April 6, 1815. 

May 1, 1809. 

August 13, 1812, died February 3, 1813. 

March 17, 1814. 

Jane l'^, 1816. 



Joshua, son of Dea. Joshua Griggs, was a physician, and for 
a short time practiced in Tolland, but removed to the west. 

Daniel, son of Dea. Joshua Griggs, married Nancy Pinney, 
of Ellington, January ll», 1806. The following are their chil- 
dren, viz. : 



Joshua, bom 


October 11, 1806. 


Eliza, " 


February 19, 1808. 


Lucius, " 


January 9, 1810. 


Harriet, " 


November 28, 1811, died March 1, 1816 


Daniel, " 


March 2, 1814. 


Harriet, " 


May 27, 1816. 


Lemuel P., " 


May 19, 1818. 


Henry 0., " 


March 30, 1821. 


Charles G., " 


November 25, 1823. 


James Randolph, " 


May 7, 1827. 



Ensign Ichabod Griggs, son of Dea. Ichabod Griggs, mar- 
ried Mary Hatch, daughter of Joseph Hatch, the second, De- 
cember 19, 1766. He died at New Rochelle, N. Y., Septem- 
ber 30, 1776, aged thirty-two years. His children were : 

bom 



Joseph, 

Samuel, 

Stephen, 

Anna, 

Matta, 



January 30, 1767. 

May 10, 1768. 

October 3, 1769. 

September 14, 1773, died April 23, 1787. 

February 12, 1777. 



Samuel Griggs, son of Ichabod and Mercy Griggs, married 
Mary Hinckley, daughter of Capt. Ichabod Hinckley, all of Toh 
land, February 16, 1792. His children were : 



Anna, 

Ichabod, 

Chester, 



born 



October 6, 1792. 
February 28- 
April 6. 



Stephen Griggs, son of Ichabod and Mercy Griggs, married 
Betsey Lathrop, daughter of Solomon Lathrop, and a niece of 
Hope Lathrop, March 8, 1792. His children were : 



Harriet, bora 


December 27, 1792 


Chauncey, " 
Ralph, '• 
Solomon Lathrop, " 
Austin, '■ 
Leverett, '' 


April 10, 1796. 
January 31, 1798. 
April 7, 1800. 
July 26, 1805. 
November 6, 1808. 



THE EARLY HISTORY OP TOLLAND. 77 

The descendants of Dea. Joshua Griggs, now residents in 
Tolland, are Mrs. Mary Cowen, Mrs. Oliver K. Isham, and 
Mr. Joshua Griggs. Thev are also descendants of Deacon 
Elijah Chapman, through Joanna, wife of Dea. Joshua Griggs. 

The descendants of Ichabod Griggs, 2d, are descendants of 
Joseph Hatch, one of tlie first settlers in Tolland, through 
Mercy, wife of said Ichabod. 

The descendants of Stephen Griggs are descendants also of 
Hope Lathrop, one of the first settlers in Tolland, through 
Betsey, wife of said Stephen Griggs. 

Ichabod Griggs, 1st, was representative in the General 
Assembly three sessions, and selectman five years. 

Stephen Griggs was selectman one year, and captain of a 
militia company. 

Chauncey Griggs was representative in the General Assem- 
bly two sesssions, judge of the Probate Court for the district 
of Tolland two years, and a justice of the peace fourteen years. 

Ralph R. Griggs was a justice of the peace five years. 

Solomon Lathrop Griggs, was sheriff of Tolland county six 
years, and selectman four years. 

Seth D. Griggs and Joshua Griggs, were each representa- 
tives in the General Assembly one session. 

James Chamberlin commanded a company of cavalry one 
or two tours of duty during the war of the revolution. He 
came to Tolland from Coventry about the year 1772, and 
removed to East Windsor before the year 1782. While in 
this town he lived at the extreme south-east part of it, on a 
farm lying east of the one lately owned by Jesse West. He 
was one of the representatives from Tolland in the General 
Assembly, October session, 1775 ; otherwise I can learn noth- 
ing more of him tlian that he was a revolutionary officer. 

The name of Joseph Baker frequently occurs as one who 
actively participated in the early settlement of Tolland. He 
was one of the petitioners in 171B, for a charter of the new 
town, and his name is on various other petitions relative 
to its settlement ; he also received an early allotment of land. 
He was one of the fifty-one grantees of the township in 1719. 
He was of Windsor and was the grandson of Jeffrey Baker, 



78 THE EARLY HISTORY OP TOLLANDi. 

from England, one of the early settlers of that town. Joseph 
Baker finally removed his entire family, (all of whom were 
born in Windsor,) to Tolland, in the year 1724. He settled 
on a tract of several hundred acres lying south of Shenipset 
pond, — he was a large landholder, owning besides other tracts, 
one in the south-west district, where he settled two or three 
of his sons, and where their descendants have resided until 
this day. One of his sons, Jacob, was educated for the min- 
istry and graduated at Yale College in 1731, being the earli- 
est graduate belonging to Tolland ; but he was consumptive — 
never preached except where there was a temporary vacancy, 
and died early in life. Joseph Baker was two years a select- 
man, and died in 1784, aged seventy-five years. His son, 
John, married Sarah, daughter of Dea. Isaac Davis, of Wind- 
sor ; settled on his share of the original tract, near Shenipset 
pond, and died in 1802, at the age of ninety-five years. Jeru- 
sha, his only child who lived to maturity, married Samuel 
Stanley; — their oldest son, John Stanley, born in 1752, mar- 
ried Abigail Gibbs, of East Windsor, in 1771 ; — their oldest 
son, Roswell Stanley, born in 1772, died in 1850, aged seven- 
ty-eight years, on the land of his ancestors ; — the farm being 
now occupied by Col. Sanford Stanley, and was formerly the 
residence of Sidney Stanley, Esq., now of Hartford, who 
during his employment at the office of Secretary of State, fur- 
nished me with copies of documents in the public archives, 
relative to the history of this town. And I take pleasure in 
publicly acknowledging my obligations to Mr. Stanley for 
many of the interesting facts and incidents used in this his- 
tory, and would recommend those who may desire further 
information upon this subject, to avail themselves of his exten- 
sive research and fund of facts relative to the early settlers of 
Tolland. 

Joseph Baker, Jr., married Margaret Gibbs, of East Whid- 
sor, January, 21, 1731. Their children were : 

Seth. born .July 2, 1733. 

Titus, " June 18, 1736. 

Joseph, " November 18, 1738. 

Ebenezer, " February 8, 1740. 

Mary, " August 5, 1745. 

Daniel, " January (5, 1747, died June 3, 1752. 

Kuth, " December 25, 1749. 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 79 

Joseph Baker, son of Joseph Baker, Jr., married Lois Car- 
penter, March 25, 1762. He was the father of Alvin Baker 
and Eli Baker, who lived and died in the south-west part of 
Tolland. Eli Baker was three years a selectman and four 
years a member of the General Assembly. 

Heman, son of Joseph Baker, senior, settled on his father's 
homestead, married Lois' Gilbert, of Hebron, and died in 1805, 
aged eighty-six years. The children of Heman and Lois Gil- 
bert were : 



Heman, born October 11, 1748. 


Ann, " 


April 24, 1750. 


Deborah, •' 


January 12, 1752. 


John, " 


January 26, 1754. 


Oliver, " 


October 5, 1755. 


Abigail, " 


November 5, 1757. 


Lois, 


November 14, 1760. 


Delight, '■ 


December 21, 1762. 


Lydia, " 


February 4, 1765. 



Heman Baker, Jr., was a sergeant in Capt. Solomon Wills' 
company of volunteers at Roxbury, in 1775. The next year 
he was taken prisoner, together with his brother-in-law, Joel 
Smith, near New York, and after being kept in the usual 
severe confinement, they were exchanged or released, and 
having been unnecessarily and maliciously exposed to the 
small pox, they were permitted to return to their homes. On 
their way they became ill, and were unable to proceed farther 
than East Hartford, where it was discovered that they both 
had the small pox in tlie most malignant form, and where 
they both died. Heman Baker, Jr., died January 21, 1777. 
He was a single man. Joel Smith left a widow and two small 
children. Their grave-stones yet remain where they were 
buried, — not in the public burying ground, but in a field near 
the house in which they died. No one of their friends in Tol- 
land could be present during their sickness or burial. 

Oliver Baker became a physician and settled in New Hamp- 
shire. 

Note This family should not be confounded with that of a Mr. 

Heman Baker, who moved into Tolland from Massachusetts, and some 
of whose descendants for a generation or two, continued in the eastern 
section of the town. 

John Baker, son of Heman Baker, Sen., married Ehzabeth 
Dimick, July 22, 1779. Their family record is as follows : 



80 THE EARLY HISTORY OP TOLLAND. 

Celinde, born April 22, 1780, married Hon. E. Stearns, November 4, 1800. 

Nancv, " May 5, 1782. 

Almira, " April IG, 17H4. 

Amelia. '' June 10, 17SG. 

Seymour, '' June 25, 1788. 

Lydia, " October 25, 1790. 

Chauncey, " September 18, 1794. 

Florilla, " October 17, 1797. 

John Baker married for his second wife, Alice Jewett, 
December 25, 1806. They had one child, Juliana, born 
September 10, 1809. 

The name " Joseph Baker," which was the name of the 

• first Baker who settled in Tolland, has been continued in a 

direct line for more than two hundred years, and is now borne 

by a young man who is the seventh in unbroken succession. 

Two persons by the name of Benton died in the service of 
their country in the French and revolutionary wars, viz. : 
William Benton, who died at Oswego in August, 1760 ; and 
AzARiAH Benton, who died in captivity in a prison ship in 
Long Island sound, December 20, 1776. They were lineal 
descendants of Samuel Benton, Sen., who was formerly of 
Hartford, in this state. 

Samuel Benton, Sen., was one of the grantees in the deed 
of the committee to the first proprietors of Tolland. There 
were in that deed four grantees by the name of Benton, viz. : 
Samuel Benton, Sen., Samuel Benton, Jr., Joseph Benton, 
Sen., and Joseph Benton, Jr. The name of Daniel Benton 
appears first as one of the twenty-five petitioners respecting 
the Coventry lands in May, 1718. On the 20th day of Feb- 
ruary, 1719, Samuel Benton, describing himself of Hartford, 
o-ave a deed of land situated in Tolland, to Daniel Benton, 
also of Hartford, which deed is expressed to be " in consid- 
eration of love and good will I have and do have unto my 
loving son Daniel Benton," &c., <fec. The land is described as 
containing forty acres ; be the same more or less, &c., &c. 
On the 28d day of May, 1719, he had a lot of land surveyed to 
him, north-westerly from Skungamug pond. On the 20th day 
of June, 1719, he had another tract set to him which had a 
highway across it, leading from the highway that run west from 
James Stimson's. This tract w^as doubtless on both sides of 
the highway that runs from the south burying ground south- 
westward to the saw mill. July 25, 1721, he had other lots 



THE EAELY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 81 

surveyed to him — one of which was estimated at seventy acres, 
and one twenty-seven acres. 

Daniel Benton married Mary Skinner, January 3, 1722. 
They had three sons, viz. : 

Daniel, born January 6, 1723. 

William, " November 12, 1725- 

Elijah, '' June 30, 1728. 

William Benton's name is upon the roll of Capt. Samuel 
Stoughton, in the year 1757, at the time the French took 
fort William Henry ; also upon the roll of Capt. Samuel 
Chapman, in the year 1758. He married Sarah Burroughs, 
December 14, 1750, by whom he had one son, John, born 
March 2, 1754. They had three daughters, whose names 
were Sarah, Ruth, and Abigail. William Benton died at 
Oswego in the month of August, 1760, aged thirty-four years. 

Daniel, son of Daniel and Mary Benton, married Mary 
Wheeler, November 3, 1747. They had seven sons, as follows : 

Elisha, born August 9, 1747, died January 21, 1777. 

Daniel, " April 29, 1748. 

Azariah, " March 29, 1752, died in a prison ship, 1776. 

Jacob, " April 22, 1754. 

William, " April 13, 1760. 

Nathan, " May3, 1764. 

SUas, " June 6, 1766. 

Daniel, son of Daniel Benton and Mary Wheeler, his wife, 
married Betty Richards, of Somers, February 1$, 1779. 
Their children were : 

Elisha, born March 20, 1780. 

Betty, " March 20, 1782. 

Eunice, " July 23, 1784. 

Agnes. " February 12, 1787, died August 19, 1791. 

Phebe, " August 12, 1791. 

Eunice married Bliss Chapin, of Somers, and occupied the 
family homestead where their son, Theodore Chapin, now 
resides. 

Jacob Benton, the son of Daniel Benton and Mary Wheeler, 
his wife, married Sarah Weston, of Willington, March 14, 
1782. They had two children, Anna, born February 1, 1783, 
and William, born August 29, 1785. Mrs. Benton died Sep- 
tember 23, 1787. He married for his second wife, Sarah, 
daughter of Jonathan Ladd, Jr., of Tolland, January 1, 1789. 
Their children were : 

Azariah, born June 8, 1790. 

Ruth, •' December 8, 1791. 

Daniel, " May 3, 1794. 

Susalla, " February 19, 1796. 

Chester, " February 5, 1798. 

Jacob, " June 1,1802. 

11 



82 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

Jacob Benton was a revolutionary soldier. At the age of 
only seventeen he was a dragoon in the army that captured 
Burgoyne, and saw the forces of that officer march off as 
prisoners. He died in 1843, at the age of eighty-three. 

AzARiAH, eldest son of Jacob and Sarah Benton, and now 
deceased, was a deacon of the Congregational church, and 
the father of Rev. William A. Benton, missionary to Syria ; 
also of Azariah L. Benton, a resident of Tolland. 

Daniel, son of Jacob Benton, and his children, are also 
residents of this totvn. 

Samuel Benton, Jr., was one of the grantees in the first 
deed of Tolland, and probably was the son or grandson of 
Samuel Benton, Sen., first above-mentioned. He married 
Jane Bradley, December 22, 1743. Their children were : 

Elihu, born December 26, 1744. 

Jonathan, '■ September 9, 1746. 

Ozias, " February 25, 1748 , 

Samuel, " May 9, 1767. 

Zadoc, " March 7, 1761. 

Jacob. " September 30, 1768. 

Thankful, " April — , 1751, burned to death in a house destroyed by fire, Nov., 1751. 

Thankful, " August 22, 1752. 

Dorothy, '• February 23, 1755. 

Sarah, " December 21, 1764. 

Ozias, son of Samuel and Jane Benton, married Sarah Day, 
of East Windsor, (now Ellington,) November 19, 1772. 
Their children were : 



Solomon, born May 1, 1775. 


Adonijah, ' 


May 25, 1777. 


Ozias, ' 


January 1, 1781. 


Ira, 


September 16, 178 


Alvin, < 


May 21, 1786. 


Alfred, ' 


January 6, 1789. 


Benjamin D., • 


June 14, 1791. 


Levi, ' 


February 6, 1794 



In the year 1816, a disease, called by physicians " conges- 
tive pneumonia," made its appearance in Tolland, and in six 
weeks time occasioned the death of sixteen persons, all of them 
adults. Only one man recovered who was taken with it. In 
the family of Ozias Benton the deaths were as follows : 

Ozias, senior, died March 21, 1816. 

Benjamin D, son of Ozias, " " 21, " 

Sarah, wife of Ozias, senior, '' " 24, " 

Adonijah, son of Ozias, " " 24, " 

Ozias, Jr., son of Ozias, " " 26, " _ ,. f - 

Adonijah, son of Ozias and Jane Benton, married Anna 
Post, of Tolland, November 28, 1803. Their children were : 

Erastus, born January 17, 1805. 

Austin, " November 14, 1806. 



fHE EARLY HISTORY OP TOLLAND. 83 

Benjamin D., born February 22, 1809. 
George B., " May 23, 1811. 

Juliana, " October 17, 1813. 

Benjamin D. Benton is a resident of Tolland. 

Alvin Benton, son of Ozias and Jane, married Ruth, daugh- 
ter of S. R. Kingsbury, and great granddaughter of Rev. 
Stephen Steel, March 24, 1812. 

Timothy Benton was undoubtedly a relative of the families 
already described, but the precise relationship I am unable to 
determine. The first Timothy Benton found upon our rec- 
ords, married Abigail Scott, of Tolland, June 29, 1738. 
Their children were : 



Abigail, born November 1, 1740. 


Eleanor, ' 


' August 12, 1742. 


Mehitabel, ' 


' April 21, 174.5. 


Elizabeth, ' 


' February 21, 1747. 


Prudence, ' 


March 12, 1749. 


Huldah, ' 


' July 15, 1751. 


Jerusha, ' 


' March 22, 1753. 


Timothy, ' 


' August 2, 1755. 



Timothy, son of Timothy and Abigail Benton, was in the 
revolutionary service ; and afterwards on the establishment of 
an artillery company in Tolland, at the first choice of officers, 
was elected its captain. He possessed an unusually excellent 
common school education, and was a popular school-master. 
Capt. Benton resided in the large house near the north-west 
burying ground, now owned by the heirs of Milton Webster, 
where he died April 18, 1816, of the "congestive pneumonia," 
above-mentioned. He married Sarah, daughter of Joseph 
West, of Tolland, November 9, 1780. Their son, Timothy, 
lately deceased, was born March 3, 1786 ; — his first wife was 
Minerva Webster, of Tolland. The sons of Timothy and 
Minerva Benton were : Milton W. (lately deceased,) born 
December 16, 1812 ; Charles West, born July 7, 1814. 

Joseph Benton, one of the grantees in the first deed, was the 
first town-clerk of Tolland, and held the ofiice three years, or 
from 1717 to 1720 ; but he was a poor penman as his records 
will show. He was a selectman two years, and was otherwise 
entrusted with public affairs. I can not find any record of his 
family, nor do I know whether he had one. He was one of 
the first deacons of the church in Tolland, and in the final 
settlement of the line between Coventry and Tolland, was 
located in the former town. 



84 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

William Eaton was one of the victims of tiie campaign of 
1762. He was the grandson of William Eaton, one of the 
first settlers in Tolland. William Eaton the first, was from 
the town of Windsor. He was one of the petitioners of May, 
1718, respecting Coventry lands ; he had lands surveyed to 
him on the 18th day of May, and 29th of December, 1719, 
and 28th" November, 1720. All these lands were in the south 
part of the town, and bounded on Skungamug river. He 
was born December 15, 1665, and married Mary Burnet, 
January 11, 1693. The following is the record of this family : 

Daniel, born December 7, 1693, died July 20, 1716. 

Mary, " March 23, 1695. 

Ebenezer, " November 29, 1697, died June 17, 1716. 

William, " July — , 1700, one Monday in pease time. 

Samuel, " September 11, 1705. 

Bethiah, " November 3, 1708. 

The first William Eaton was the first selectman ever chosen 
in Tolland. He was elected in the year 1717, and re-elected 
the two succeeding years. 

William, son of William and Mary Eaton, married a woman 
whose Christian name was Rachel. Their children were : 

Ebenezer, bom January 6, 1727, died August 1, 1728. 

Juda, " March 10, 1728-9. 

Rachel, " November 15, 1730. 

William, " October 17, 1732, died at Havana. 

Jemima, '" January 26, 1735. 

Peter, " August 19, 1737, died November 25, 1752. 

William, son of William and Rachel Eaton, married Lydia 
Cook, November 13, 1754. Their family record is as follows : 

Ann, born November 17, 1755. 

Solomon, . " December 24, 1757. 

William, " June 24, 1759. died October 12, 1760. 

Epaphras, " August 8, 1761. 

This William Eaton was one of the men who went in the 
expedition to the Island of Cuba in 1762. He was taken 
with the fever that proved fatal to so many of the troops about 
the time the army was to leave the island. Mr. Eaton was 
taken to the beach preparatory to embarking, and was left by 
his attendants who returned to bring some things he needed, 
but when they came back they found he had expired. They 
had no time to spare and buried him in the sand where he 
died. 

Solomon Eaton, son of William and Lydia Eaton, married 
Elizabeth Delano, daughter of Sylvanus Delano, and grand- 
daughter of Jonathan Delano, who will receive further notice 



THE EAELY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 86 

under the title of " Town Clerks." They were married June 
23, 1777. The following is their family record : 



Jasper, born January 26, 1781. 


Zerad, 


November 30, 1783. 


Luther, ' 


November 24, 1785. 


Ralph, 


January 23, 1788. 


Clarissa, ' 


December 2, 1789. 


Sally, 


December 21, 1791. 


Almandor, ' 


January 15, 1794. 


Anna, ' 


' July 3, 1796, married David Johnson, December 18, 1716. 



Solomon Eaton was one of the revolutionary veterans of 
Tolland. He served during nearly the entire war, and was in 
many engagements. It is to be regretted that the full service 
of any of those men can not now be ascertained. At Mon- 
mouth, Mr. Eaton was slightly wounded, and in that battle he 
killed a British grenadier in fair single-handed conflict during 
a charge with tfayonets, — a necessity on which, in a conversa- 
tion with a friend of the writer in his broken old age, his 
mind seemed to dwell with sadness. Mr. Eaton was in La- 
fayette's light infantry ; — in September, 1824, when that 
distinguished individual had just commenced his celebrated 
tour through this country, Mr. Eaton had the satisfaction of 
an interview with his former commander. It was at the brick 
tavern in the east part of Vernon. The friend before referred 
to witnessed their parting. As they shook hands, Mr. Eaton 
said : " I wish you a pleasant journey." " God bless you," 
replied the General. Mr. Eaton was esteemed as the best 
soldier of the veteran company in which he served his longest 
term, and enjoyed through life a higher soldierly renown than 
any other of the rank and file furnished by Tolland. His 
patriotic feelings during life were very exalted. He wor- 
shiped his country and its emblems. One of liis descendants, 
Horatio D. Eaton, of Hartford, is now an officer of the Con- 
necticut volunteers. 

Solomon Eaton died in September, 1843, at *the age of 
eighty-five years, being the last survivor but one of the rev- 
olutionary soldiers in Tolland. 

The descendants of William Eaton, who died at Havana, 
remaining in this town, are those of his son Solomon, viz. : 
Luther Eaton, Esq., and family, Mrs. Anna Johnson, widow 
of David Johnson, and family, Mrs. A. M. Hawkins and her 
children, and Oliver, son of Ralph Eaton, now residing on 



86 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

the original Chapman homestead. Several of the descend- 
ants of Solomon Eaton reside in Hartford. 

Other persons of the name of Eaton were among the first 
settlers of Tolland ; one of whom, Thomas Eaton, came from 
Woodstock and settled here in the year 1721. He had two 
twin sons born on the first day of March, 1739, whom he 
named Moses and Aaron. Moses died in 1739, and there is 
no record of the family after that date. Thomas Eaton's wife's 
name was Elizabeth Parker. They were married December 
7, 1721. Their son Aaron was twenty-three years old at the 
time of the Cuba expedition, and as one Aaron Eaton of 
Lieut. Wills' company died in that expedition, I think the 
conclusion reasonable that he was the son of ^Thomas Eaton 
of Tolland. 

Samuel, the son of William and Mary Eaton, married a 
wife whose name was Jemima — the surname not given. 
Their children were : 

Jemima, bom May 8, 1732. 

Bethiah, " January 14, 1733. 

Samuel, " September 15, 1734. 

Aaron, " March 8, 1737. 

Samuel Eaton, Sen., died in 1737. His son, Aaron, might 
have been the one in the Cuba expe(Jition, but being a rela- 
tive of the William Eaton who was in that expedition, and 
as there is no family tradition that William had any relative 
in the same service, I have supposed the other Aaron Eaton 
was the one who went to Cuba. 

Constant Crandal was another of the victims of the Cuba 
expedition. He came to Tolland probably after the year 
1750. There is no record of him or liis family other than 
that he had a son born July 25, 1757, and that he died at 
Havana, August 27, 1762. Giles Crandal came into town 
about the same time. He had a son, Samuel, who married 
Bethiah Eaton, August 12, 1749. Probably she was the 
daughter of Samuel and Jemima Eaton. They had thirteen 
children, among whom was one named Samuel, who was born 
April 13, 1774, who married Roxana Rawdon, November 23, 
1792, and they were the parents of the late Jarvis Crandal, 
who died June 28, 1854, and who is long to be remembered 
as one of the sweet singers in Israel ; also of Amos Crandal 



THE EARLY HISTORY OP TOLLAND. 87 

now of this town. These Crandal families are of course the 
descendants of William Eaton, the first settler of that name 
in Tolland. 

Noah Stimpson or Stimson was another of the young men 
of Tolland who died on the Island of Cuba. He was the 
grandson of Doct. James Stimson, who wasthe first physician 
located in Tolland. James Stimson, before 1716, resided in 
Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts. He married Hannah 
Stearns, a sister of Shubael Stearns and John Stearns, two 
of the first settlers in Tolland, at Lynn, March 21, 1710. 
He must have removed to Tolland before March 22, 1716, 
for his daughter Hannah is recorded as born in Tolland on 
that day. He was one of the twenty-five inhabitants of Tol- 
land who signed the petition of May, 1718, to the General 
Assembly, respecting the Coventry lands. He had allotments 
of land made to him on the 21st of June, 1720, and received 
a deed of land from Samuel Benton, Jr., dated December 4, 
1721. The residence of Doct. Stimpson was near the spot 
now occupied by Mr. George Morgan. He died March 10, 
1758 — one hundred and three years ago ; therefore I can ob- 
tain no information relative to his repute in his profession ; 
only the records abundantly show that he was in the medical 
practice. 

James Stimson's eldest son, Ichabod, was born in Lynn, 
Mass., January 22, 1713, and married Margaret Pack, daugh- 
ter of Joseph Pack, another of the first settlers of the town, 
February 28, 1740. Their first son, Stephen, was born No- 
vember 5, 1740 ; married Keziah, daughter of John Paulk, 
November 26, 1767. Their first daughter, Jane, was born 
March 27, 1772. She married Joshua Luce of Tolland, and 
they were the parents of Leverett Luce, lately of this town, 
and owner of what was called Luce's mills. 

The following is the record of Doct. James Stimson's fam- 

ily: 

Ichabod, born January 22, 1713. 

Eneas, " Mav 25, 1714. 

Hannah, " March 22, 1716. 

James, " September 20, 1719. 

Naomi, " NoTember 8, 1722. 

Thomas, " July 26, 1725. 

The children of Ichabod and Margaret Stimson were : 



88 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

Stephen, bom November 5, 1740. 

Noah, •' October 14, 1742, died at Havana. 

Sarah, '' October 5, 1744. 

Joseph, " January 12, 1746. 

Ruth, " May 1, 1749. 

Joel, " July 31,1751. 

Margaret, '' November 25, 1753. 

Lois, " January 22, 1756. 

Alice, " February 12, 1758. 

Gideon, " September 13, 1761. 

Eneas, " February 17, 1765. 

Thomas, the youngest son of Doct. James Stimson, mar- 
ried Hannah Flint, February 11, 17-47. Their children were 
as follows : 

Aaron, born November 28. 1749. 

John, " September 1, 1751. 

Hannah, " May 17, 1754. 

Siiaou, " December 2, 1756. 

Abel, '' March 20, 1762. 

David, " April 14, 1764. 

Miriam, " October 25, 1766. 

Ruth, " September 3, 1769. 

Joshua, " May 14, 1772. 

Thomas Stimson died January 24, 1796, aged seventy-one. 

Joshua, youngest child of Thomas Stimson, was the father 
of Mrs. Sarah Northrop, at present a resident of Tolland, 
and a descendant of two of the first settlers, to wit : Doct. 
James Stimson and Joseph Pack. 

Among the names of thqse who went from Tolland to Cuba 
in 1762, is that of John Barnard, who never returned. He 
was the son of Doct. Thomas Barnard, the second physician 
that ever located in this town. Doct. Barnard was from Had- 
ley, Mass., and took a deed from James Lassell, dated April 
12, 1734, describing a tract of land lying on both sides of the 
Skungamug river, a little south of Cook's bridge. This was 
doubtless the farm now owned and occupied by Doct. Jedu- 
than C. Eaton, which farm it is known he occupied for some 
time. Probably Dr. Barnard came to Tolland at about the 
date of Lassell's deed. He had four sons whose names were, 
Moses, born Feb. 16, 1729 ; John, born Aug. 6, 1731 ; SsCm- 
uel, born May 13, 1737 ; and Aaron, born Sept. 30, 1746. 
He died in 1780, aged seventy-three years. Some of the aged 
people, with whom I formerly had conversation respecting the 
early history of the town, recollected Dr. Barnard as a very 
respectable gentleman, and a good doctor. He did not, how- 
ever, make any very prominent mark, nor do the records show 
that he was actively engaged in any public business. Moses, 
his eldest son, married Ann Loomis, daughter of Solomon 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 89 

Loomis, May 22, 1750. The following is the record of this 
family. 

Francis, born August 31, 1750, died February 10, 1774. 

Esther, " November 20, 1752, died December 12, 1773. 

Jonathan, " February 27, 1755. 

Anu, " August 23, 1757, died February 21, 1774. 

Moses, " January 28, 1760. 

William, " September 22, 1764. 

John, " June 26. 1766, died January 26, 1774. 

Reuben, " October 24, 1768. 

Abby, •• February 20, 1771. 

Solomon, '• November .30, 1772, died February 10, 1773. 

Ann, tlie wife of Thomas Barnard, died Jan. 12, 1774. 

It will be seen that there were five deaths in this family 
between Dec. 12, 1773 and Feb. 25, 1774, a period of only 
seventy-one days — a mother and four children. Moses Barn- 
ard, the father, died at New Rochelle, N. Y., in the service of 
his country, Oct. 15, 1776, aged forty-six years. 

I have no knowledge that any of the descendants of Doct. 
Barnard are now in Tolland ; but as two of their number, 
while belonging in town, lost their lives in the service of their 
country, the family ought ever to have a place in the town's 
history. 

The Hatch family also lost a member in the expedition to 
Cuba. Judah Hatch, of Tolland, died a.t Havana in 1762. 
He was the son of Ichabod Hatch, who came from Falmouth, 
Barnstable Co., Mass., in the year 1726, and whose wife's name 
was Abigail Works. Their children were: 

Zerviah, born October 5, 1715. 

Joseph, " August 18, 1718. 

Judah, '' November 11. 1720. 

Justus, '• October 20. 1722 

Abigail, " March 27, 1725. 

Daniel, " September 24. 1726. 

lluth, " August 15, 1729. 

Ichabod, " October 28, 1732. 

The name of Hatch is associated intimately with the settle- 
ment of the town. Joseph Hatch was one of the grantees in the 
first deed from the Windsor committee, and is one of the peti- 
tioners respecting the Coventry lands in 1718. He probably 
lived in Windsor before 1713, but there is reason to believe he 
removed to Tolland in that year, and was one of the first two, 
if not the very first, permanent settler in the town of Tolland. 
A record of his family was made May 26, 1722, in Tolland, 
commencing in these words : 

" Joseph Hatch, a record of his children's births and deaths 
12 



90 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

in Tolland, in the county of Hartford, in the colony of Con- 
necticut, in New England. 

Amy Hatch, daughter of Joseph Hatch, was bom October 10, 1713. 
Joseph Ilatch, the son of .loseph Ilatch, was born on September 12, 1715." 

Tradition says that this was the first male child born in 
Tolland. 

Mercy, born AviRust 23, 1717. 

Jonathan, '' September 2U, 1718. 

Children of Joseph Hatch and Rebecca, his second wife. 

Lemuel, born February 29, 1735. 

Kebeeca, '• June 8, 1737, (lied September 14, 1739. 

Ebenezer, " April 21, 1740. 

Timothy, " August 14, 1741. 

This Joseph Hatch was two years a selectman, and was the 
first tavern-keeper in Tolland, being chosen a tavern-keeper 
at a town meeting Jan. 6th, 1718. He was the first military 
officer in Tolland, having been commissioned a lieutenant in 
Oct., 1722, and captain in May, 1725. He was the owner of 
the land in the south part of Tolland, now in the ownership 
of Frank Hatch, his great grandson ; Avhich has always been 
in the possession of the family since the first settlement of 
the town, a period of one hundred and forty-eight years. 

Joseph, son of the above Joseph Hatch, married Mary 
Clark, of Lebanon, March 10, 1741. He died February 23, 
1773, aged fifty-eight years. His children were : 

Mary, born January 15, 1742. 

—!>. Jonathan, " September 24. 1743.- 

'/ Mercy, " February 28, 1746. 

William, " December 28, 1747, died March 26, 1777, at Natham, New Jersey. 

Joseph, " April 13, 1750. 

Abithea, " May 12, 1753. 

Bethiah, " January 13, 1755. 

Dan, " December 29, 1757. 

Anna, " September 18, 1759. 

Timothy, " February 1, 1761. 

Isaac and 

Rebecca, " May 24, 1763. 

Joseph Hatch, 3d, son of Joseph 2d, married Sarah Parks, 
Sept. 18, 1772. 

Joseph, their son, was born January 9, 1773. 

Betsey, " August 27, 1774. 

Anna, " September 24, 1776. 

Sallv, " October 24, 1778. 

■Wiliiam, " December 31. 1780, died July 2, 1709. 

Ephraim, " March 21, 1783. 

Kuth, " July 20, 1785. 

Dana, " January 3, 1783, died March 16, 1792. 

Frank, " April 28, 1790. 

Dana, " February 19, 1795. 

Abner Hatch was a resident of Tolland before 1747, and 
on Nov. 5, of that year, married Abigail Loomis, daughter of 



THE EARLY HISTORY OP TOLLAND. 91 

Solomon Loomis, one of the early settlers of the town. Their 
children were: 

Jerusha, born May 22, 174S. . 

Abigail, " I'ebruary 4, 1750. 

Abner, " January 31, 1753. 

Eleazar, » August 29. 1755, died June 12, 1763. 

Hannah, " February 12, 1758. 

Edy, " September 20, 1760. ' 

Esther, " February 10, 1763. 

Eleazaj, " September 17, 1769. 

Sarah, " February 3, 1768. ' 

The children of Edy, son of Abner Hatch were : 

Experience, born September 14, 1722. 

Abner, '^ November 22, 1726. 

Hannah, " January 15, 1729. 

Sarah, " April 10. 1734. 

David, " February 8, 1736. 

I^ u c^^ " August 4, 1740. •>_ 

Eleazar Hatch married Thankful, daughter of Joseph La- 
tlirop, December 31, 1767. Their children were : 

Semantha, born November 22, 1768. 

Morana, " June 1, 1770. 

Zadoc, " January 6, 1772. 

Nathaniel, " January 19. 1774, died August 6, 1803. 

Prudence, " June 8, 1776. 

Grace, " April 3, 1778, died October 22, 1800. 

Jeduthan, " December 20. 1780 

Lectana, " April 15, 1785. 

Mrs. Thankful Hatch, wife of Eleazar, died March 17, 1803. 

Zadoc, son of Eleazar and Thankful Hatch, married Caro- 
line Holbrook, June 13, 1793. The following is a record of 
their family : 

Gustin, born November 3, 1794, died September 28, 1796. 

Nersa, " January 21, 1796, died September 3, 1798. 

Marvin, " November 13, 1797, died February 15, 1813. 

Grace, " October 18, 1800. 

Lectana, '• September 13, 1802. 

Caroline, " October 11, 1804. 

Mary Hyde, " May 20, 1806, died February 22, 1808. 

Lovlsa, " September 14, 1807 

Eleazar Lathrop, " November 18, 1809. 

Jonathan, son of the second Joseph Hatch, married Bath- 
sheba, daughter of Dea. Joseph West, December 5, 1765. 
Their children were : 

Bathsheba, born June 15, 1768. 

Mary, " May 5, 1770. 

Clarissa, " October 27, 1772. 

Jonathan, " August 24, ,1774. 

Mrs. Bathsheba Hatch died September 1, 1774, and Jona- 
than Hatch married for his second wife, Mary, daughter of 
Daniel Benton, Jr., April 28, 1777. Their children were : 

Jerusha, born June 6, 1778. . 
Rosamond, " May 11, 1780. 
Aseoath, " May 6, 1782. 
Mary, " April 19, 1784. 
, " November 5, 1786. 



92 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

Children of Timothy Hatch : 

Saluenius. bom .Tulv 11, 1717. 

Marv, " August 17, 1718. 

JediJa, " December 30, 1720. 

■'Jethro, " September 17, 1722. 

Timothy, " June 22, 1728. 

Deborah, " April 10, 1729. 

Job, " May 10, 1731. 

Justus, son of Ichabod Hatch, married Abigail Case, Feb- 
ruary 15, 1744. Their children were ; 

Honora, born March 16, 1745. 

lleman, " April 1,1747. 

Darius, " September 30, 1748. 

Justus, " November 1, 17.51. 

Ruth, " January 21, 176S) — and two that died in infancy. 

Children of David and Anna Hatch : 

George, born September 29, 1764. 
Solomon, '' November 5, 1766. 

Lucy, '• February 19, 1768. «* 

The descendants of the first Joseph Hatch now in Tolland, 
are Mrs. Alexander Abbott and her descendants, Miss Ruth 
Hatch, Frank Hatch and his children, the descendants of 
Capt. Stephen Griggs, the descendants of Dea. Jabez Kings- 
bury, and Joseph Tilden and children. 

Oliver Yeomans was one of the victims at the island of 
Cuba. He was a son of Elijah Yeomans, and was born in 
Tolland, November 10, 1740. He was of course about 
twenty-two years old when he died. There were several 
families of the name of Yeomans in Tolland at an early date. 
In 1720 one John Yeomans was selectman ; and one John 
Yeomans, Jr., of Tolland, has a deed recorded, bearing date 
April 11, 1723. There is no record of his family. 

Thomas Yeomans had the births of five of his children 
recorded in Tolland, viz. : 



Thomas, 


born 


July 9, 1716. 


Joseph, 


" 


March 28, 1719 


John, 


" 


May 10, 1721. 


Stephen, 


" 


July 9, 1723 


Ruth, 


" 


October 28, 1725. 



Joseph, son of Thomas Yeomans, married Susanna Rich- 
ardson, February 1, 1749. They had one child, Stephen, 
born July 25, 1749. 

Stephen, son of Thomas Yeomans, married Jerusha Ben- 
ton, October 17, 1771. They had one child, Susanna, born 
August, 1772. 

Elisha Yeomans and his wife Mary have the following rec- 
ord : 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 93 



Jerusha, 


born 


March 3. 1728. 


David, 


" 


March 30, 1730. 


Mar}', 


" 


Mav 5. 1732. 


Joaathan, 


'• 


April 7, 1734. 


Hannah, 


" 


March 8, 1736. 



Elisha Yeomans died May 21, 1736. 

Elislia Yeomans has thig record. Abigail, born February 
20, lfS5 ; Elijah, January 17, 1738 ; Oliver, November 10, 
1740 ; Eunice, July 9, 1746. Elijah Yeomans died March 
4, 1750. 

Elijah Yeomans, Jr., married Amy Delano, June 17, 1762. 
Their children were, Abigail, born May 6, 1763 ; Elisha, 
November 9, 1764. 

Elisha Yeomans married Joanna Baker, June 8, 1769. 
Their children were : Molly, born March 24', 1770 ; Anna, 
August 25, 1772 ; Elisha, January 27, 1775 ; Sarah, October 
7,1777. 

John Y'eomans, Jr., was doubtless originally from Ston- 
ington. It does not appear whether those of Tolland bear- 
ing the name were his relatives, or whether they came from 
the same place. But it does appear that the name was in 
Tolland as early as 1720, and continued in the town until 
1777, a period of fifty-seven years, after which the name of 
Yeomans disappears from our records. 

Ezra Waldo was another of the persons who was sacrificed 
at Havana in 1762. He was doubtless the son of Bethuel 
"Waldo, who moved from Windham to Tolland about the year 
1750. Bethuel Waldo was a son of Edward Waldo, who was 
a son of John Waldo, and grandson of Dea. Cornelius Waldo, 
who settled in Ipswich, Mass., about the year 1650, John 
Waldo, son of Cornelius, settled in Windham, Conn., in the 
year 1698. The records in Tolland do not show the time 
when, nor the person to whom, Bethuel^ was married. It 
commences with a notice of the birth of his son Bethuel, his 
fourth child, who was born in Tolland, May 23, 1751. Be- 
thuel Waldo, Sen., married Lois Munsell, and had a son Ezra, 
who was born March 23, 1746. Ezra Waldo was of course 
but sixteen years old when he enlisted in the expedition in 
which he died, and was then an inhabitant of Tolland. I can 
find no other of the name who could have been in that expe- 



94 THE EARLY HISTORY OP TOLLAND. 

dition. Bethuel Waldo, Seu., had a son named Henry, born 
January 10, 1762, who was the father of Lemuel Waldo, now 
a resident" of Tolland, and of Mrs. Frances West, of Coventry. 
There is a tradition in the family of Henry Waldo, that an 
elder brother of his perished in' the revolutionary army. 
Bcthucl Waldo had an elder brother, named Edward, who was 
the great grandfather of the writer. 

Leonard Grover came to Tolland from Coventry in 1756, 
having a deed of a farm in the north part of Tolland, dated 
April 23, of that year. He had a daughter born in Tolland, 
Octo])er 9, 1758, and lost two children, one of whom died in 
1760 ; the other May 6, 1762 ; — after which last date there is 
no record of him or his family. His name appears on the roll 
of the company under Lieut. Wills that went to Cuba, with 
the return that he there died. I am unable to find any fur- 
ther traces of his family. 

Jonathan Burres or Burroughs was also a victim in the 
expedition to Cuba in 1762. He came into Tolland about the 
year 1748 ; and has a record of the births of six children, to 
which it is added that he died at Havana, September 7, 1762. 

I have stated that John Lathrop was slain by the enemy in 
the war of the revolution. He was the grandson of John 
Lathrop, who moved into Tolland about the year 1726, from 
Falmouth, in Barnstable county, Mass., and who took a deed 
of a tract of land containing a lumdred and twenty acres, 
bounded east on Willimantic river, which deed is dated June 
4, 1726 ; and in which deed he is described as " now resident 
in Tolland." 

Hope Lathrop, who is reputed to have been the brother of 
John Lathrop, took a deed bearing date 1726, of Daniel Eaton, 
of a tract of land in Tolland, containing by estimation one 
hundred and fifty acres, and is also described as bounding east 
on the Willimantic. In this deed, Hope Lathrop is described 
as being of " Falmouth in the county of Barnstable, in his 
majesty's province of Massachusetts Bay." 

There is no record of the marriage of John Lathrop, but I 
find a record of the births of his children. This is as follows : 

David, bora October IS. 1723, died October 4, 1787- 

Hannah, '■ July 5, 17'J5. 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 95 



Jonathan, born September 18, 1727. 



Anna, 

John, 

Thatcher, 

Lydia, 

Elizabeth 



March 10, 1730. 

May 6, 1732. 

January 26, 1734. 

June 2i, 1736. 

April 22, 1740, married Col. Solomon Wills. 



John Lathrop, Jr., son of John, married Lucy Gray, of Cov- 
entry, December 10, 1754. Their children were : 



Susalla, born November 23, 1757, married Eliab Ladd. 



Presenda 

John, 

Elizabeth 

Elvira, 

Rowland, 

Lucy, 

.Tonathan 



January 30, 1761 

April 24, 1763. killed December 10. 17 

Au^u.st23, 1765. 

June 13, 1768. 

M.arch 10. 1771. 

November 1, 1774. 

February 17, 1776. 



Molly, •• September 12. 1779. 

Rowland Lathrop, the son of John Lathrop, Jr., married 
Hannah Crafts, of Tolland, January 1, 1799. The following 
are their children : 

Horace, born April 23, 1801. 

William, " January 8, 1806. 

John, « December 24, 1810, died May 29, 1813. 

Benjamin, " June 5, 1814. 

Mary, " July 27, 1817. 

Hannah Lathrop deceased October 15, 1820 ; — Rowland 
Lathrop married for his second wife, Hannah Cleaveland, of 
Hartland, Vermont, February 28, 1821. Their children were : 

Rolliu, born December 19, 1821. 

Thomas Cleaveland, " February 22, 1824. 

Rowland Lathrop possessed more than ordinary abilities. 
When young, he passed for what in those days was called a 
wild young man, but his wildness ended with youth and he 
early became a very steady man and a most exemplary Chris- 
tian. He was a member of the Methodist denomination and 
was a local preacher. His public performances were credita- 
ble for fervency, candor and sincerity. He had a good knowl- 
edge of human nature, and had a shrewdness peculiar to him- 
self in his remarks upon almost every topic. Mr. Lathrop 
was proverbial for integrity and uprightness in all his deal- 
ings, and constant and true in his friendships. He was highly 
esteemed by his acquaintance, and never seemed to be more 
happy than when doing them some good. He was twice 
elected to the General Assembly, but never appeared to be 
over-auxious for political preferment. The influence of his 
example was most salutary, and a recollection of his guileless- 
iiess and simplicity will cause his memory to be long respected. 
He died September 14, 1844, aged seventy-one years. 



96 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

IcHABOD, son of Hope Lathrop, Sen., married Abigail 
Baker, of Barnstable, Mass., November 9, 1732. His family 
record is as follows : 

Abigail, born October 15, 1733. 

Sanih, " March 20, 1735, dietlJune G, 1739. 

Hope, '' July 6, 1737. 

Sanih, " January 22, 1740. 

Anna, " March 26, 1742. 

Solomon, " May 24, I74(i. 

Mary, " September 14, 1748. 

Hope Lathrop, son of Icliabod, married Hannah H^ibbard, 
of Tolland, May 3, 1760. Their family record is as follows : 

Rebecca, born October 17, 1760. ' 

Edna, " February 15, 1763. 

Sarah, " July 4, 17C5. 

Ichabod, " June 30, 1767. 

Hannah, " July 12, 1768. 

Second wife : 

Horace, " April 25, 1775. 

Grace, *' Febru,^ry 21, 1776. 

Solomon, " April 21, 1779. 

Grant, " January 25, 1782. 

Sophia, " July 2, 1785- 

Azel, " January 28, 1788. 

Laura, " November 19, 1790. 

Capt. Hope Lathrop died November 8, 1792. He had been 
four times a member of the General Assembly. 

Joseph Lathrop married Prudence, daughter of Samuel 
West, June 17, 1744. They had but one son — Nathaniel, 
born August 16, 1752, and died April 28, 1771. Daughters : 
Thankful, born October 21, 1746. Prudence, born August 
16, 1749, who died November 30, 1771 ; and Rebecca, born 
August 28, 1760. Joseph was a deacon of the church, and 
nine years a selectman of the town. 

John Lathrop married Rachel Ladd, Dec. 20, 1753. Their 
daugliter Rachel was born Oct. 22, 1754. 

Melatiah Lathrop married Mercy Hatch, Nov. 15, 1738. 
Their daughter Deborah was born August 11, 1739. 

William Lathrop married Amelia, daughter of Capt. Ammi 
Paulk, March 22, 1803. Their cliildren were, Kelsey, born 
October 17, 1803 ; Julius, born March 17, 1805. 

John Lathrop, the first settler, was a selectman two years, 
and twice a member of the General Assembly. He was one 
of the first representatives the town ever had, he being chosen 
with Zebulon West at the Oct. session, 1748. His descendants 
are yet rather numerous in Tolland. 

John Lathrop, who resided in the south-east part of the 



THE EARLY HISTORY OP TOLLAND. 97 

town on tlie farm where his son Charles Lathrop still resides, 
was not of the above family. He was the son of Zebulon 
Lathrop, from Lebanon, who received a deed of the above- 
mentioned farm from Joshua Tilden, March 26, 1800. The 
ancestors of Zebulon Lathrop were from Norwich. The chil- 
dren of this John Lathrop were : 

Justin, born September ] 8. 1802. 

John, " July 26. 1804. 

Charles, " December 2-3, 1806. 

Wealthy R., " September 13. ISIO. 

S.amuel M., " August 11. 1815. 

Mary Angeline," April 2, 1818. 

Amos Cobb, the son of Doct. Samuel Cobb, was killed at 
the battle of White Plains, Oct. 28, 1776. 

Samuel Cobb was born in Wales^^^in Great Britain, in the 0. 
year 1716. I am unable to say when he came to this country, 
and where he was educated. On his tombstone he is described 
as having been a gentleman of public education, but his alma 
mater is not mentioned. He came to Tolland probably about 
the year 1743, and took a deed from Robert Parker, of Wil- 
lington, of a hundred and twenty-five acres of land, in this 
town, dated Dec. 19, 1744, in which he is described as being 
of Tolland. He married Mary Hinckley, August 25, 1743, 
by whom he had two children, Sarah, born July 7, 1744, who 
married John Slate; and Samuel, Jr., born Aug. 2, 1746. 

Doct. Cobb married for second wife, Hannah Bicknell, of 
Ashford, April 11, 1749. Their children were: 

Amos, born February 9, 17.50. killed at White Plains. 

Moses, " December 21, 17.51, died February 2, 1781, was a physician 

Mary, " December 29, 1753. married Reuben Chapman first, and Daniel Edjertou second. 

Jeduthan, " January 24, 1750, married Sarah, daughter of Dea. Elijah Ohapmau. 

Hannah, " January 20, 1768, died November 27, 1846, aged 89, unmarried. 

Solomon, " July 30, 17-59, died November 6, 1770. 

David, " July 6, 1761, married Hope Norris. 

Pamela, " January 20, 1764, died November 6, 1770. 

Daniel, '' January 21, 1766, married Elizabeth Holbrook. 

William, " January 20. 1768, married Elvira Stearns. 

Ruth, " September 29, 1770, married Ephraim West. 

Kachel, " January 20, 1774, died July 19, 1777. 

Samuel Cobb, Jr., married Esther, daughter of Ephraim 
Grant, Dec. 14, 1769. Their son, Samuel, was born Jan. 30, 
1771. He married for second wife, Ann Slate, Dec. 16, 1773. 
Their children were : 

Jedutliau, born January 29, 1776. 

Amos, " January 2, 1778. 

Esther, " .July 4, 1779. 

Ruth, " February 5, 1781. 

13 



98 » THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

Daniel Cobb iiiarried Elizabeth Bolbrook, ]\Iay 31, 1787. 
Their children were: 

Achsah, born June, 1788, 

Horace, '• Novenib«r, 1789. 

Waite, " Mari'li, . 

Betsey, " June, 

Ruth, " April, . 

Daniel, " Juue. . 

Luther, " , . 

William Cobb married Elvira, daughter of Doct. John 
Stearns, Oct. 29, 1792. Their children were: 

Hannah, born February 30, 1794. 

Alma, '■ September 22, I7U5. 

Eliza, " August 27, li97. 

Klvira, " September 15, 1799. 

Kachel, " December 31, 1800. 

Wm. Uickncll, '' March 9, 1802, died. 

Mai-y Ann. " April 2, 1804 

VVm Bickuell, " January 16, 180G. 

Calvin P., " September 26, 1810. 

The descendants of Doct. Cobb, now in Tolland, are: ]Mr. 
Levi Edgerton ; the children and grandchildren of the late 
Reuben Edgerton ; Mrs. B. L. Young and her children ; the 
children of the late Reuben Chapman ; Elijah S. Cbapmaii 
and his children, all being the descendants of Mary Cobb : 
Luther Cobb ; Mrs. Edmund Josljn ; and Mrs, Dwight Edger- 
ton, the descendants of Daniel Cobb : Mrs. Doctor Ladd ; her 
children and grandchildren ; the descendants of William 
Cobb : and the descendants of Mr. Ephraim West, deceased, 
who married Ruth Cobb. The descendants of Doct. Cobb are 
also numerous elsewhere. 

Doct. Cobb was one of«the most prominent citizens that ever 
/ resided in Tolland. He is reported as having stood high in 
his profession, and as having enjoyed the entire confidence of 
the community. He was honored by the town and the public 
with several important and responsible offices. He was eight 
times elected a member of the General Assembly, and like- 
wise attended two extra sessions. He was thirteen years a 
justice of the peace when there were but two justices in town ; 
and most of the time was the acthig magistrate. Li this 
sphere of duty he gave very general satisfaction, and his min- 
istrations were regarded as equitable, discreet, and promotive 
of the public tranquillity. His moral influence in society was 
very effective in restraining vice and dishonesty, and he did 
much to encourage sobriety and virtue. While living he was 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 99 

greatly respected, and his memory will long remain as the 
conscientious, npriglit citizen, and honest man. He died on 
the 6th day of April, 1781, aged sixty-five years. 

As a branch of the Cobb family, now in Tolland, we can 
not lose sight of the descendants of Mary Cobb, who became 
the wife of Capt. Daniel Edgerton. Daniel Edgerton probably 
moved into Tolland in the spring of the year 1770. On the 20th 
day of March, of that year, he took a deed of Daniel and John 
Lathrop, of Norwich, of a part of the farm he afterwards 
owned in Tolhmd, and in which deed ho is described as being 
of Norwich. He first married Sarali, daughter of Dea. Icha- 
bod Griggs, Dec. 19, 1771 ; the record of which describes 
him as being of Tolland. Tlieir children were: 

Sarah, bora January 8, 1773. 

Phebe, " April 13, 1775- 

Mrs. Sarali Edgerton died June 23, 1777. Capt. Edgerton 
married for his second wife, Mary, daughter of Doct. Samuel 
Cobb, and widow of Reuben Chapman, Nov. 27, 1777. Their 
-children were : 

Daniel, born September 11, 1778. 

Ileuben, '• .1 uue 13. 1780. 

Sarah, " April 5, 1782 

IMary, •' June 27, 1784. died September 27, 1784. 

Erastus, " November 8, 178(3. 

Mary, " 

Levi, " December 28, 1791. 

Capt. Daniel Edgerton died January 10, 1825. He was 
very highly respected, and was a very active and useful man. 
Besides his military rank, he was fourteen years selectman, 
a large part of which time he was the first selectman and 
principal manager of the afi'airs of the town ; one year a jus- 
tice of the peace, (which he probably declined holding longer,) 
and was chosen a representative to the (xeneral Assembly 
twenty-three times. In stature lie was quite six feet high, 
stout built and well proportioned. In demeanor he resem- 
bled a gentleman of the old school, — always dignified, affa- 
ble, respectful, courteous. He deserved and received the gen- 
eral good will of his entire acquaintance, and discharged all 
the duties of life conscientiously and satisfactorily, and has 
lefta very honorable and well deserved reputation. 

Daniel Edgerton, Jr., married Sarah, daughter of Zebulon 
Lathrop, May 7, 1801. Their children were : 



100 THE EARLY HISTORY OJ' TOLLAND. 



Marvin, 


born 


January 11,1802. 


Linus, 


" 


October 4, 1803. 


Erastus, 


<i 


Juno 23, 180G. 


Betsey, 


" 


September 30, 1808. 


Phebe, 


ti 


October 23, 1810. 



Reuben Edgerton married Anna, daughter of Zebulon La- 
tlirop, March 23, 1803. Their cliildren were : 

Austin, born March 26, 1805. 

ElisiaAnn, " September 3, 1807. 

William L., '' Au^u.st 30, 1810. 

Daniel, " September 20, 1813. 

Iteuben, " October 17, 1810. 

Lucius, " April 19, 1820. 

Marvin, " December 4, 1828, died December 5, 1829. 

Levi Edgerton married Edna Grant, daughter of Ebenezer 
Grant, December 7, 1825. Their children were Sarah Kings- 
bury, born September 14, 1826, and Amaret Grant, born June 
26, 1828. 

Capt. Daniel Edgerton, tlic founder of the above family, 
had a half brother named Hezckiali, who came from Nor- 
wich to Tolland al)out the year 1770. He was the progeni- 
tor of the Edgertons in Coventry, and their descendants, 
His widow, Freolove, died in Tolland in 1801. 



BU EYING- GROUNDS 



The first record of any burial in Tolland was made in the 
year 1735, and is in these words : 

" Ebenezer Eaton, a son of William Eaton, died in June 
the 27th day one thousand seven hundred and sixteen, (1716,) 
in the nineteenth year of his age, and was the first that was 
laid in the burying-place of the above said Tolland." 

" Daniel Eaton, the son of William Eaton, died July tlie 
twentieth day, in tlie year one thousand seven hundred and 
sixteen, (July 20, 1716,) in the twenty-third year of his age, 
and was the second in the burying-place in the above said 
Tolland." 

These yoimg men were the sons of William Eaton, the first 
of that name in Tolland, of whom I have already spoken. 
It would seem that the inhabitants of Tolland, by a kind of 
common consent, set apart a portion of land where these 
young men were buried, and now included in the south bury- 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 101 

ing-ground, as a public or common place of burial. Whether 
this was the only spot then used for that purpose, does not 
distinctly appear, nor does it appear that there was any ac- 
tion of the town or proprietors of the land upon this subject 
before 1720. At a town meeting held and recorded under 
date of August 3, 1720, the following vote was passed : 

"At a town meeting in Tolland adjourned to the 8th day 
of the same month it was voted : that there shall be a bury- 
ing-place where they did formerly bury in, about two acres." 

This vote constituted the whole action of the town at that 
time, and was deemed a sufficient appropriation and conse- 
cration of the ground for the purpose of burying the dead. 
This ground was then common land, and it was permitted to 
remain in common without being fenced, for about fourteen 
years. On the 11th day of December, 1731, the town passed 
the following vote : 

" It is further agreed and voted at said, meeting to fence 
the Burying-place in Tolland with a decent five rail fence ; 
that is to say — post and rail fence in some convenient time in 
the year ensuing : Also voted to choose a committee to com- 
plete the fencing of the burying-place as aforesaid, — Sergt. 
Ephraim Grant, Ichabod Hatch are chosen a committee for 
to do or see said work well done." 

In order to have the foregoing vote carried into effect, it 
became necessary to locate this ground ; accordingly a sur- 
vey was then made by Jonathan Delano, a selectman, and 
Zebulon West, surveyor, as follows : 

" Whereas it was voted by the town of Tolland at a meet- 
ing on the 8th of August, 1720, that there should be a bury- 
ing-place where some dead had before been buried, viz. : 
about two acres of land, and there being no survey of the 
same to be found on record : We the subscribers have this 
first day of March A. D. 1735, surveyed, measured and laid 
out for the town, two acres of land a little southward of 
Scungamug pond, containing within the same all the graves 
that are thereabout ; bounding the same as foUoweth : Be- 
ginning at a white oak tree, marked, for the south-east cor- 
ner — standing in the west line of Doctor James Stimson's 
land ; from thence run with six degrees to the west, twenty- 
two rods and a half to a stake and heap of stones ; — from 
thence run west twelve degrees to the south, fifteen rods to 



102 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND, 

a stake and heap of stones ; — thence run sonth, six degrees 
to the east twenty-two rods and a half to a stake, and heap 
of stones ; — thence a straight line fifteen rods to the first 
mentioned white oak tree ; — abntting east on said Doctor 
James Stinison, and west on Daniel Benton ; south on the 
heirs of Barnabas Hinsdale. Tlio above written recorded 
March 30, 1735." Signed by Jonatlian Delano, selectman, 
Zebulon West, surveyor. 

On the same day Daniel Benton gave a path one rod wide 
across his land to this burying-place. 

On the 16th day of March, 1701, the town passed the fol- 
lowing vote : 

" Voted to procure two pieces of land of about one acre 
in each in the northward part of tlic town for burying-places. 
Also voted that Timothy Benton, Capt. Isaac Hubbard and 
Mr. Stephen Steel be a committee to procure sucli pieces of 
land by their discretion." 

On the fifth day of January, 1762, Timothy Benton gave 
the town of Tolland a deed of one acre of land for a bury- 
ing-ground, to be used for that purpose, for the consideration 
of live pounds, lawful money. This is the burying-ground 
in the north-west part of the town. Jonathan Ladd, son of 
Jonathan Ladd, Jr., and Anna his wife, died August 25, 
1762, aged two months and ten days, and was the first person 
laid in this burying-ground. Tlie child was a brother of 
Eliab Ladd, father of Ariel Ladd, Esq., now of Tolland. 

On the seventh of February, 1762, Nathan Flynt, for the 
consideration of five pounds lawful money, gave the town of 
Tolland a deed of one acre of land for a burying-ground, 
which is now the ground in Scungamug village. 

With the exception of the north-west, whicli has been kept 
in repair by those who felt an interest in its appearance, the 
town has taken charge of these burying-grounds, has appoint- 
ed persons to take care of them, (called sextons,) and has 
done most that has been done to make them even respectable. 
On the ninth day of April, 1859, the town voted to purchase 
land to enlarge the south burying-ground, and grade and drain 
the one at Scungamug. On the tliirteenth of April, 1859, 
the town procured a deed of land lying between the south 
burying-ground and the highway, which was graded and pre- 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 103 

pared at the expense of the town, and the town also drained 
and graded the ground at Scungamug, and erected a substan- 
tial stone fence on the side next the road, during the same 
year. 



POST-OFFICE 



Before the year 1705 or 1796, there was no post-office in 
Tolland. In one of those years an office was established in 
this town, and Deacon Benoni Shepard was appointed post- 
master. Dea. Shepard kept a tavern in the house where Mr. 
Charles R. Hicks now resides, and kept the office in his house. 
At that time there was but one mail a week between Hartford 
and Boston, and that was sometimes carried on horseback, 
sometimes in a one liorse sulkey. No stage coaches passed 
through Tolland until the year 1807, when a line of stages 
was established from Hartford to Boston, passing through this 
town. Within fifteen years after its first establishment, the 
mail route through Tolland became a great thoroughfare ; 
there was a daily mail both ways, which was carried through 
Tolland in four horse post-coaches. The route for the mail 
from New York city to the Eastern States, was through tliis 
town, until tlie western railroad was completed to Springfield, 
after which tlie mail was placed upon that route. There was 
also a tri-weekly mail from Springfield to Norwich, tlirough 
Tolland, from 1828 to 1851, carried in post-coaches, when it 
was placed upon the railroad by the way of Palmer. These 
principal mail routes have been turned from Tolland in con- 
sequence of the building of the railroads, so that while other 
places have been benefited by those improvements, this town 
has been a sufferer. In place of the mail accommodations 
with which the town used to be favored, it is now sitpplied 
specially with a daily mail from Hartford,— Tolland being the 
end of the route. 

Benoni Shepard, the first postmaster, was probably a son 
of Jonathan Shepard, whose deed of land in Tolland, dated 



104 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

April 8, 1763, describes him as belonging in Coventry. Be- 
noni Shepard married Desire West, a daughter of Zebulon 
West, Esq., June 16, 177 i, at which date he is described of 
Tolland. In another record he is found to be of Tolland, 
May 25, 1772. His first wife, Desire, died July 20, 1778, 
leaving one child, whose name was Pamela, born January 23, 
1777. Mr. Shepard married for his second wife, Anna Al- 
vord, of Bolton, daughter of Saul Alvord, Sen., February 
15, 1781. By her he had the following children: 



Benoni, 


born 


January 4, 1782, died August 26, 1799. 


Dosire, 




June 29, 1783. 


Anna, 




March 31, 1785. 


Sophia, 




February 3, 1787. 


Sally, 




November 24, 1788. 


Lydia, 




December 14, 1790. 


Eunice, 




March 6, 1794. 


Benoui A., 




JuQe 28, 1796. 


Anson, 




September 29, 1799. 



Mr. Shepard has the reputation of having been a good 
neighbor, a worthy citizen and a useful man. He was for 
several years a deacon of the Congregational church in Tol- 
land, and died January 16, 1808, aged sixty-eight years. 

Upon the resignation of Mr. Shepard in 1807, Col. Elijah 
Smith was appointed postmaster, and continued in office until 
the year 1812, when for political reasons only, he was removed, 
and Calvin Willey, Esq., appointed in his place. 

Col. Elijah Smith was a son of Moses Smith, of East Hart- 
ford, and was born January 16, 1767. He was by trade a 
hatter, and removed to Tolland and set up his business in the 
Spring of the year 1788. He took a deed of a house and a 
piece of land in Tolland, from James Wells, dated March 19, 
1788. He married Melicent Wills, a daughter of Col. Solo- 
mon Wills, October — , 1792 ;— she died May 22, 1810. He 
married for his second wife, Lydia Curtis, July 16, 1811. 
Their children are two sons, born March 22, 1812, whose 
names are Elijah Wills and Eli Ives ; — and two daughters, 
Lydia Melicent, born August 22, 1817, and Mary Mindwell, 
born J^me 4, 1822. 

Col. Smith commenced keeping a public house in Tolland 
soon after his first marriage, at the place now occupied by 
Ansel S. Barber, and continued in that business until his 
death, — a period of about fifty years. To say that his house 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 105 

was excellent — that he was a model landlord, and his good 
lady a princess among landladies — would not be telling the 
whole story, and would give but a faint impression of the 
comforts afforded by his mansion. His house was indeed the 
traveler's home, where a guest had every wish gratified with- 
out feeling that some extra effort had been put forth for his 
special benefit. The Colonel was always cheerful and familiar, 
without losing any of that dignity so essential to command 
the respect of others ; and without seeming to exercise au- 
thority, he always kept his bar-room in such order that one 
would as soon think he was sitting in a gentleman's parlor as 
in a place of pul)lic resort. The whole establishment was 
managed upon the plan of having a place for every thing, and 
every thing in its place ; and this general plan had few inno- 
vations. At this tavern, Gen. Lafayette, in his tour in this 
country in 1824, halted and had an interview with some of 
his comrades in the revolutionary war. 

As a citizen. Col. Smith possessed many of those qualities 
that adorn humaji nature, and which make a man's society 
desirable and his life useful. He was once a member of the 
General Assembly, and as Colonel of the twenty-second regi- 
ment was a popular military officer. He was an affectionate 
husband, an indulgent parent, a kind and accommodating 
neighbor, and a sincere and constant friend. He was forward 
in all attempts to build up the interests of the town, active in 
works of benevolence and charity, and ever ready to relieve 
the poor and distressed. He took a deep interest in the wel- 
fare of young men, often aided them by his counsels, and 
encouraged tliem to hope for better prosjjects when angry 
storm-clouds seemed ready to dash upon them. The writer 
has too often experienced his kindness to let his name fade 
from his recollection so long as his own memory performs its 
office. Col. Smith departed this life May 24, 1847, aged 
eighty. 

Hon. CALvm Willey was postmaster from 1812 to 1820, 

when he resigned, and Luther Eaton was appointed in his 

place. Mr. Willey kept the post-office a part of the time in 

his own house, being the one now owned by James S. Kent, 

14 



106 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

and a part of the time he had Joseph Howard as assistant, who 
kept the office at his own residence in the south part of the 
square roof house near the north end of the village street, now 
owned by Doct, Jeduthan C. Eaton. 

Mr. Willey was born in East Haddam, Conn., September 
11, 1776. His early advantages for education were very 
indiftercnt, being nothing more than the benefits of the com- 
mon schools as they then existed. He commenced reading 
law in the office of the late Hon. John Thompson Peters, 
afterwards one of the judges of the Supreme Court of Errors, 
in June, 1795. Mr. Peters was then a resident of Hebron, in 
Tolland County. Mr. Willey was admitted to the bar in Tolland 
county, in February, 1798, and first opened an office in Chat- 
ham, in the county of Middlesex, but in 1800 he removed to 
Staftbrd, in Tolland county, Mliere he resided until the year 
1808. While in Stafford he was twice chosen a representa- 
tive to the General Assembly, and was postmaster in tiiat 
town from 1806 to 1808, when he removed to Tolland. He 
was Judge of Probate for the district of Stafford, then includ- 
ing the town of Tolland, from 1818 to 1825 — seven years ; 
was six times elected a represeiitative to the Ceneral Assem- 
bly from Tolland, and twice to the State Senate, upon a gen- 
eral ticket, before the State was districted for the choice of 
Senators. He was a candidate for the office of Representative 
in Congress in the year 1821, but was defeated by his own 
party because he had, in 1820, suffered his name to remain on 
a union ticket for State Senators, consisting of an equal num- 
ber of federalists and democrats. Mr. Willey was identified 
with the democratic party. In 1824 his friends brought him 
forward for the United States Senate, when the same objection 
was urged against him. There had always been some rivalry 
and a little ill feeling between Mr. Willey and some of the 
prominent politicians in the south part of the county ; and 
hence the strong opposition to Mr. Willey whenever he was a 
candidate for an office that called for their suffrages. He was 
defeated as representative to Congress by Hon. Daniel Bur- 
rows, a resident of Hebron. In the canvass for the United 
States Senate in 1824, the citizens in tiie south part of this 



THE EARLY FIISTORY OF TOLLAND. 107 

county, brought forward as his competitor, the late Governor, 
John S. Peters, of Hebron. During the session of 1824, Mr. 
Willey was three times elected by the House of Representa- 
tives to the office of United States Senator, by very consider- 
able majorities ; and John S. Peters was as many times elected 
to the same office by the Senate. As the two Houses did not con- 
cur, the Assembly adjourned witliout making a clioice. Tiie 
friends of Mr. Willey were very active in the Spring of 1825 
in securing a return of members of tlie legislature favorable 
to his election to the senatorship, and succeeded in electing a 
decided majority in the House of Representatives, which early 
in the session elected Mr. Willey to that office ; but the Sen- 
ate, as if to try the temper of the House, re-elected on their 
part Hon. James Lanman, whose term in the U. S. Senate had 
then expired, and whose place this election was to fill. But 
the House immediately returned the name of Mr. Willey to 
the Senate, who upon reconsideration conciirred with the 
House, and Mr. Willey was thus elected Senator of the United 
States for six years. In this canvass, which had become very 
animated, Mr. Willey received the support of the remnant of 
the federal party, wMiicli then existed in some strength. They 
were conscious that mucli of the opposition to him arose from 
his conservative course in the election of 1820, and the gen- 
tlemen who sympathized with him then, manifested their 
gratitude by sustaining him for the office of U. S, Senator in 
1825. Mr. Willey entered upon and discharged the duties of 
that appointment, and retired from public life at the close of 
his term in 1831, and at the age of fifty-five years. 

He returned to his profession in 1831, but his absence for 
so long a time, and the changes in the course of business, had 
turned the current into other channels, and he was never 
able to regain the professional standing he enjoyed previous 
to his election to Congress. 

Mr. Willey was a man of more than ordinary intellect, and 
his attainments as a lawyer were very fair. At one time he 
stood at the head of the bar in Tolland county. He was de- 
votedly attached to his profession, entertained strong views 
of the ennobling and elevating effect its practice has upon 



108 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 



the mind of the honest practitioner, and maintained that in 
its benefits to community it stood second to no otlier. He 
was very successful before a jury ; he always entered into 
the cause of his client with his wdiole heart. — indeed, he 
often became so identified with his client as to make success 
a matter of personal feeling; and he sometimes lost sight of 
the true interests of his client in his zeal to defend the claims 
he set up. At the close of his life, the bar of Tolland county 
noticed his memory by appropiate resolutions, which by or- 
der of the Superior Court were placed upon the Court rec- 
ords. 

Mr. Willey was twice married. His first wife was Sally 
Brainard, of Chatham. They were married October 22, 
1798. Their children were as follows: 

Sidney Brainard, born March 14, 1807. 

Jauies Marshall, " Hereuiber 27, Isll. 

John "Calvin, '■ June 28, 1S14. 

Sarah Jane, " June 29, 1816. 

Elizabeth Mary, " December 24, 1817. 

Asa, '• September 7. 1819. 

George Parsons, •' July 27, 1821. 

Sally Willey, the wife of Hon. Calvin Willey, died Febru- 
ary 25, 1827, aged 44. He married Nabby Brainard, sister of 
his first wife, April 25, 1827. The following are their children : 

Harriet Maria, born April 28, 1828. 

Mary Ann, " January 19, 1830. 

Lucretia Green, '• February 4, 1S32. 

Jiliza Hall, " May 14, 1833. 

Letitia N. " February 24, 1835. 

Mr. Willey continued to reside in Tolland until the spring 
of 1854, when he removed to Stafford, where he remained 
until his decease, August 23, 1858, at the age of eighty-two 
years. 

Luther Eaton was postmaster from 1820 to 1845, when, 
upon his resignation, Joseph Bishop was appointed to the 
office. In the spring of 1850, Mr. Bishop was removed, 
solely for political causes, and Henry Underwood was ap- 
pointed in his place. Mr. Underwood removed from the 
town in the spring of 1853, and resigned the office, which in 
June, 1853, was filled by the appointment of Obadiah P. 
Waldo, who held the office until July, 1861, when he was 
removed, for political causes, and William Keith appointed 
as his successor. 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 



109 



Thus in sixty-six years there have been but seven post- 
masters in Tolland, three of whom have been removed from 
office on account of politics, the others having been permit- 
ted to hold the office until it was their pleasure to resign, — 
one of whom, Luther Eaton, Esq., held the office twenty-five 
years. 



TOWN-CLERKS. 

We have seen that a petition was presented to the General 
Assembly in May, 1716, praying for " the privilege to choose 
a town-clerk and other town officers," which was negatived. 
Whether any other petition was ever presented for this object 
does not appear ; but in the year 1717 the town was permit- 
ted to choose town officers, and in December of that year 
commenced the exercise of that privilege. The following 
are the names of the persons who have been town-clerks of 
the town of Tolland, with the dates of the commencement 
and termination of their terms of office. 
Joseph Benton, elected Dec, 1717, held the office three years. 
Shubael Stearns, " 1720, " two " 

John Huntington, " 1722, " one " 

Shubael Stearns, re-elected, 1723, " one " 

Jonathan Delano, elected, 1724, " twelve " 

Zebulon West, " 1736, " thirty-four " 

Nathaniel West, " 1770, " six " 

Eleazar Steel, " 1776, " nine " 

Benoni Shepard, " 1785, " eighteen " 

Ephraim Grant, " 1803, " four " 

Samuel Ladd, " 1807, " one 

Daniel Kellogg, " 1808, " two 

Samuel Ladd, re-elected 1810, " five " 

EliakimH. Williams, elected 1815, " one ^ " 

Luther Eaton, elected 1816, " four* " 

Joseph Howard, " 1820, " sixteen " 

Oliver K. Isham, " 1836, " ten 

Samuel Kent, " 1846, ^' two 



11 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAXD. 

William W. Brace, elected 1848, held to April,5, 1852, when 
Joseph Bisliop was appointed by the selectmen upon the 
resignation of Mr. Brace, and held the office until the an- 
nual meeting in 1852. 
Gurdon Isham, elected 1852, held the office two years. 
Oliver K. Isham, re-elected 1854, " two " 

Gurdon Isham, " 1850, and held the office until 

his death, when Joseph Bishop was appointed by the select- 
men for the balance of the year. 
Joseph Bishop, elected 1857, held the office three years. 
Joseph A. Dresser, " 18(30. 

I have already spoken of Joseph Benton, and have given 
such genealogical facts of the Benton family as I had been 
able to obtain. 

Shubael Stearns, the second town-clerk of Tolland, was 
one of a family that had much to do in the early settlement 
of the town. He was one of the grantees in the deed from 
the committee or trustees, and was also one of the signers of 
the petition dated May 14, 1716, and May, 1718. He had land 
allotted to him in June and July, 1720. He was born in 
Lynn, Mass., August 9, 1(383, and married Rebecca Sanford, 
at Saco, on the 28th day of December, 1704. The following 
are their children : 

Shubael, bom January 28, 1705. 

Rebecca, " November 19. 1707. 

Peter, " August 2, 1710. * 

Isaac, " March 22, 1713. 

The record made by Mr. Stearns himself, shows that the 
children above-named were born before his removal to Tol- 
land. The following were born after his removal into this 
town : 

Elizabeth, boiJn August 30, 1715. 

Hannah, '' March 6, 1718. 

Sarah, " February 29, 1720. 

Ebeuezer, " April 23, 1722. 

Marv, " April 27, 1724. 

Martha, " August 18, 1726. 

Shubael Stearns was two years a selectman of Tolland. 

Slmbael Stearns, Jun., the oldest son of Shubael Stearns, 
Sen., was ten years old when his father removed to Tolland,' 
in 1715. He married Sarah Johnson, of Lexington, March 
6, 1726. He remained in Tolland until the year 1754, when 
he removed from New England. 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. Ill 

Between the years 1740 and 1745, the people of New Eng- 
land were electrified by the eloquence of the celebrated 
Whitefield, whose preacliing was mainly instrumental in for- 
warding the great revival of religion that then spread through 
the land. The followers of Mr. Whitefield were called Neic- 
lig-hts, and were not very favorably regarded by the more 
staid religious community. Their success, however, was so 
great, that many of the clergy who were then supposed to 
have permanent livings, were opposed to the revival, fearing 
that they might be deserted by their hearers, and be com- 
pelled to preach to empty seats. Many of them carried their 
opposition so far as to refuse the revival preachers the use of 
their pulpits, and actually procured the enactment of a law 
that under certain limitations confined all preachers to their 
own parishes, — an opposition as useless as unwise, and only 
encouraged the very thing it was intended to prevent. The 
minds of the people, having become excited by the fervor of 
the new teachings, could not relish the dry, formal services 
of the settled clergy, which they supposed were conducted 
by a set of graceless mercenaries, without any of that unction 
which characterized the performances of the New-lights. 
The town of Tolland shared the advantages, or disadvantages, 
of these movements ; but the innovators were treated with 
more favor by the then settled minister. Rev, Stephen Steel, 
than their associates received from the clergy generally ; and 
the wisdom of the course pursued by Mr. Steel, growing out 
of his forbearance, catholicity, and kindness, is evidenced by 
the fact, that in a very few years this sect entirely disappeared 
from the town, and left him in charge of a respectable con- 
gregation without any open dissension. 

Among the persons in Tolland who adopted the New-light 
ideas, no one became so much distinguished as Shubael Stearns, 
Jr., above named. He united with them about the year 1745, 
l)ecame a preacher, and continued with them about five or six 
years. In the year 1750 or 1751, he became acquainted with the 
Baptist denomination ; renounced the tenet of infant baptism, 
and was himself rebaptized by Rev. Wait Palmer, in Tolland, 
in the year 1751. On the 20th day of May, in the same year, 



112 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

he was ordained to tlie work of the ministiy by Mr. Palmer 
and Rev Joshua Morse. Several persons in Tolland attaclied 
themselves to Rev. Mr. Stearns, among whom were one or two 
hy the name of Paulk. Mr. Stearns and his companions left 
Tolland in the year 1754, and fixed their residence elsewhere. 
It does not appear that he started with any particular place 
in view, upon which to settle. His biographer, from this 
point, remarks respecting him, that he " resolved to follow the 
guidance of the spirit, as it should be manifested to him from 
time to time. The first place at which he made any stay was 
in Virginia, on Opeckan creek, where there was a Baptist 
church under the care of the Rev. 8. Hoton, and where he 
met with Mr. Daniel Mai'shall, his brother-in-law, just returned 
from lus mission to the Indian country. Mr. Stearns pitched 
at a place called Cacapon, not far above Winchester. Remain- 
ing there but a short time, and not finding that ministerial 
success which his impressions had lead him to hope for ; he 
and his company, now joined by Mr. Marshall and his com- 
pany, removed to North Carolina, and settled at a place called 
Sandy Creek, and immediately formed a church. He con- 
thiued to labor with great assiduity, aided by Marshall and 
Breed. So great was their success, that in a little time this 
little band swelled to more than six hundred. Mr. Stearns' 
impressions, respecting a great work in the West, seemed 
now to be verifying ; and considering subsequent events, he 
must be an infidel who doubts the origin of these impressions. 
"He was a preacher of some doctrinal talents, but he was 
more remarkable for his zealous animating manner. He 
brought from New England the same tones, gestures, <tc., 
which had" distinguished the new lights of that country. He 
w^as of small stature, had a very expressive and penetrating 
eye and a voice singularly hamonious. His enemies, it was 
said, would sometimes be captivated by his musical voice. 
Many things are related of the enchanting sound of his voice ; 
and the glance of his eyes which had a meaning in every 
move. Mr. Stearns continued to discharge his duties as a 
pastor of Sandy Creek church until a short time before his 
death, which took place on the 20th day of November, 1771. 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 113 

He lived and died faithful to the important truths confided to 
him. Mr. Stearns was an orator of tlic ripht sort, and tlie 
effects of his public speaking upon his hearers proved it better 
than if a thousand finished orations had been published from 
his lips." 

It is not known whether any of the family of Shubael Stearns, 
Sen., remained in Tolland after the year 1754 ; it is certain, 
however, that several of them left at that time with Shubael 
Stearns, Jr., and settled in North Carolina, where their pos- 
terity is now very numerous ; and where, as has been like- 
wise ascertained, within a few years, the Rev. Mr. Stearns 
left a very desirable reputation as a pulpit orator, 

John Stearns was a brother of Shubael Stearns, Sen. 
This fact is verified as well by tradition as by tlie copy of a 
deed from Shubael to John, dated Jan. IG, 1720, on the town 
records, which deed is expressed to be for the consideration of 
five pounds in money, or its equivalent, in hand, paid by my 
brother, John Stearns, of Tolland, <fec. This deed shows that 
John Stearns was a resident of Tolland before 1720. He 
married Elizabeth Barnes, of Tolland, Dec. 2, 1723. The 

following is their record : 

• 

Eleanor, born February 13, 1725, died October 2, 1737. 

David, " December 14, 1725, died February 2, 1725-6. 

Elizabeth, " May 26, 1728. '. 

Ruth, " July 19, 1730. , rv V/fat«-^ iS CtKi^t^ 

Lydia, '• July 25. 1732. .,'^ "^ 

John, '■ January 11, 1736. 

Elizabeth, wife of John Stearns, died April 19, 1737. He 
married Abigail Diggins, of Windsor, April 19, 1739, she died 
February 13, 1762 ; he then married Eunice Miller, July 29, 
1754. Their children were : 

Daniel, born January 24, 1756, died April 8, 1756. 

Eleanor, " August 11, 1757 

Charles, " October 19, 1758. 

Mary, " February 3, 1760, died Augu.st 15, 1787. 

Sarah, " Koveuiber 6, 1761. 

John Stearns, the son of John and Elizabeth Stearns, was 
the Doct. Stearns who married a Miss Wills of Tolland, and 
was the father of Judge Elisha Stearns, of whom I spoke in 
my lecture on the History of Tolland County. It is only 
necessary for me to state here tliat the Stearns family is rep 
resented in Tolland by Mrs. Charles R. Hicks and her chil- 
15 



-1 



114 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

dreii ; also in Bristol, in this State, by Mrs. Leverett Griggs 
and Rev. Leverett Griggs' children. 

I have before said that Doct. James Stimson married Han- 
nah, sister of John and Siuibael Stearns. This relationship 
is verified by a record of a deed from James Stimson to John 
Stearns, dated Jan., 10, 1720, in which he sells to " his brother 
John Stearns of said Tolland." There were of course three 
families, where one of the united head was a Stearns, among 
the first settlers of Tolland. 

John Huntington, the third town-clerk, has heretofore been 
described. 

Jonathan Delano, town-clerk of Tolland, came from Dart- 
mouth, Mass., May 8, 1722. He was a resident of Tolland 
July 20, 1723, as appears by a deed to him of that date from 
Stephen Steel. He was twelve years-town clerk, and eleven 
years a selectman. To judge from his records he possessed a 
superior English education, and probably was a very useful 
citizen. His children, thirteen in number, are as follows ; 
the first nine were born in Dartmouth, Mass. : 

Sarah, born March 18, 1705, married Samuel West, March 30, 1732. 

Joan, " December 16, 1706, married Joseph West, May 19, 1725. 

-Jabez, " January 1'2, 1708. 

Nathan. " March 1, 1711- - 

Amy, " August ll, 1713, married Cnristopher West, October 25, 1732. 

Jonathan, " December i, 1715. 

Barnabas, " April 11, 1718. 

Svlvanus, " May 17, 1720. 

Elizabeth, " Way 15, 1722. 

■Susanna, " June 23. 1724. 

Thomas, " December 21, 1726, 

Timothy, " November 4. 1729. 

Jetbro, " October 29. 1732. 

Jabez Delano, above-named, married Prudence Hobart, of 
Windham, — had five daughters, but no sons that survived 
infancy. 

Nathan Delano married Ruth , September 3, 1731, 

and had three sons : Nathan, born January 5, 1739 ; John, 
born December 3, 1731 ; Jabez, born February 10, 1734, who 
removed to Coventry, and afterwards to Dover, N. H. 

Jonathan Delano married Ann Ladd, October 8, 1754. 
Their children were : 

Jabez, born July 1, 1755. 

Jonathan, '' August 10, 1757. 

Anne, " August 11, 1759. 

Philip, '' June 15, 1761. 

Esther, •' August 13, 1764. 

Zebulon, " February 19. 1767. 

Clarinda, '• June 10, 1769. 



THE EARLY HISTORY OP TOLLAND. 115 

Barnabas Delano had one son, Gideon, born November 27, 
1742. 

Sylvanus Delano married Elizabeth Peck, a widow, daugh- 
ter of John Abbot, Son. Their children were : 

Sylvanus, born April 10, 1745. 

Joseph, '• August21, 1746, died. 

Amos, '• August 2, 1747. 

Sanih, '• May 28, 1749. died. 

Nathaniel, " May 27, 17oli 

Elizabeth, " March 12, 1755, married Solomon Eaton. 

Barnabas, " May 6, 1753. 

Aaron, '• November '13, 1756. 

Anne, •• April 17, 1760. 

Moses, " June 15, 1762. 

f Jonathan Delano was a descendant of Philip De la Noye or 
De Laynaye, a French Huguenot or Protestant, who to escape 
persecution in his own country, fled to tlie puritan brethren 
at Leyden, and came to Plymouth in the second ship that came 
to that place, viz. : the Fortune, in November, 1621. From 
this Philip are descended all bearing the name of Delano in 
the United States. The descendants of Jonathan are very 
numerous and respectable, though mostly by female branches. 
Rev. Stephen West, the celebrated theological writer, was one 
of them. The representatives of this family now in Tolland, 
are: the children of Mr Joel West; the children of Mr. 
Ephraim West, and their descendants ; Mr. Luther Eaton and^ 
his descendants ; Mrs. Anna Johnson and her descendants.,/' 
Zebulon West was town-clerk thirty-four years. He was a 
son of Dea. Francis West, who before the year 1720, was a 
resident of Stonington. This is verified by the record of a 
deed from Josiah Rockwell, of Windsor, to Francis West, of 
Stonington, dated November 29, 1718 ; also of a deed from 
Nathaniel Grant, of Tolland, to Francis West, of Stonington, 
dated March 1, 1720, both conveyhig land in Tolland. He 
was a resident in this town in January, 1721, as appears by 
the record of a deed from John Huntington to " Francis West 
of Tolland." These records show that he then had over seven 
hundred acres of land standing in his name, lying principally 
in the south-east corner of the town. He had several sons 
whose names appear on the records of the town. Their names 
are Samuel, Joseph, Amasa, Zebulon, Pelatiah, and Christo- 
pher. Joseph and Samuel were in town January 14, 1720, 
on which day the ear marks of their cattle were record- 



116 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

ed. Samuel's mark was a half-penny on the fore side of the 
right ear ; and Joseph's mark was a half penny on the fore- 
side of the left ear. 

Samuel West was one of the original grantees in the pro- 
prietor's deed, and had land allotted to him with the other 
proprietors of the town. Francis West took a deed from 
Nathaniel Taylor, one of the original proprietors, of two lots 
of land containing one hundred and forty-two acres, " with all 
rights of division," which entitled him to an interest in com- 
mon with other proprietors. 

Samuel, son of Dea. Francis West, married Sarah, daugh- 
ter of Jonathan Delano, November 4, 1724. The following 
is their record : 

Prudence, bom September 5, 1726. 

Sarah, " March 2\. 1729. 

Samuel, " Marcn 30, 1732. 

Abigail, " July 22, 1734, died February 12, 1750. 

Abner, " May 1, 1737. 

Joanna, " December 2, 1739. 

Eiisha, " September 14, 1742. 

Anna, " September 16, 1745. 

Sarah, wife of Samuel West, died .November, 1752. He 
then married Abigail, daughter of Ichabod Lathrop, Novem- 
ber 26, 1754. Their children were : 

Ann, born September 12, 1756. 

Butb, " December 21, 1759. 

Samuel, son of Samuel West, married Sarah, daughter of 
Ichabod Lathrop, March 25, 1756. Their children were: 

Sarah, born November 19, 1757. 

Tryphena, " January 21, 1760.] 

Ichabod, " June 7, 1762. 

Stephen, " February 15, 1765. 

Frederick, " April 2, 1767. 

Grace, " September 26, 1769. 

Prudence, " February 23, 1772. 

Abner, son of Samuel West, Sen., married Mary, daughter 
of Joseph Hatch, 2d, July 3, 1760. Their children were : 



Abigail, 


born 


June 28, 1761. 


William, 


" 


February 12, 1762 


Abner, 


u 


January 8, 1765. 


Mary, 


" 


March 6, 1767. 


Submit, 


(t 


July 24, 1769. 



Joseph, son of Dea. Francis West, married Joanna, daugh- 
ter of Jonathan Delano, May 19, 1725. His children were : 

Mercy, bom April 20, 1726. 

Joseph, " November 2, 1728. 

Joanna, *' August 21, 1732. 

Rufas, "• October 1, 1736. 

Deborah, " January 30, 173S. 

Pathshebtt, " July 0, 1741. 

Ephralm, " December 6, 1747, dieB Septemtfer 16, 170). 

Jabra, " January 33, IT'S!. 



Joseph, 


bor 


Sarah, 




(Jharles, 


" 


Dorcas, 




Eunice, 


'> 


Joseph, 


" 


Salome, 


•' 


Hannah, 


" 


Zadoc, 


" 


Joel, 


" 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 117 

Joseph, son of Joseph and Joanna West, married Lois 
Strong, March 10, 1752. Their children were : 

December 21, 1752, died March 20, 1753. 

April 7, 1754 

May 4, 1756. died September 18, 1760. 

May 17, 1760, died August 15, 1760. 

December 20, 1762. 

June 3, 1776. 

February 6, 1769. 

October 30, 1721. 

December 1, 1773. 

March 19, 1777. 

This Joseph West was a very useful citizen. He was en- 
trusted with the guardianship of an unusual number of minors, 
not one of whom was ever known to express dissatisfaction 
with the management of his property. Towards the close of 
the revolutionary war, when the financial aflairs of the town 
were necessarily in great confusion, and the state government 
had required additional duties from towns in their corporate 
capacity, the people of Tolland elected a board of five select- 
men, being two more than the usual number, and Mr. West 
was placed at its head, though he had, as selectman, long 
before, gone the customary round of office. 

Joel, son of Joseph and Lois West, married Abina Chapiii, 
of Stafford, October 25, 1798. Their children were : 



Lois, born 
Percy, f 
Lester, 


February 23, 1800. 
January 1. 1802. 
July 8, 1804. 


WiUiam, '■ 


June 3, 1806. 


Aldeu, '• 


August 27. 1808. 


Chauncey, " 

Elisha, " 


May -22, 1811. 
October 22, 1813. 


EliS., " 
Henry W., " 


August 15, 1817. 

August 28, 1819, who with his family continues to occupy the farm and 



dwelling-house of his ancestors. 

Rufus, son of Joseph and Joanna West, married Sarah 
Nye, November 22, 1764. Their children were : 

Grace, born November 1, 1766. 

Ephraim, " September 30, 1767. 

Joel, " September 27, 1773, died in infancy. 

Ephraim, son of Rufus West, married Ruth, youngest 
daughter of Doct. Samuel Cobb, December 3, 1790. Their 
children were : 

Renda, born October 4, 1791. 

Rufus, " June 30, 1793. 

Orson, " February 1, 1796. 

Carlo, " 

Bicknell, " January 10, 1800. 

Sherman, " October 20, 1801. 

Parmela, " September 12, 1803. 

Grace, " October 29, 1805. 

Evaline, " June 26, 1807. 

Ruth, " August 6, 1809. 

EpUraim, " February 11, 1812, died March 28, 1818. 



118 THK EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

Mr. Ephraim West died November 2, 18G0, aged ninety- 
three years. Mrs. Ruth West died January 14, 1838, aged 
sixty-seven. 

Amasa, third son of Dea. Francis West, married Amy, 
daughter of the first Joseph Hatch. Their children were: 

Francis, born November 1, 1731. 

Oliver, " October 2, 1733. 

Phebe, " September 2, 1735. 

Lucia. " AugUcSt 9, 1738. 

Uebeoca, " November 26, 1742. died December 10, 1774. 

Amy, " December S. 1741. 'lied August 8, 1756. 

Mercy, " September, Itj, 1744. 

Mehitablc, " February 7 1747, died March 24, 1755. i 

Amasa, '' May 1, 1749 

Susan, " March 8, 1754, died March 25, 1755. 

Amasa West married Bathsheba Gibbs, of Sandwich, Sep- 
tember 20, 1757. 

Levi, born April 27. 1760. 

Francis, sou of Amasa West, married Abigail Strong, of 
Coventry, September 13, 1751. He died June 22, 1769. 
Their children were: 

Beulah, born September 8, 1752, died April 23, 1755. 

Abigail, " January 14, 17o3, died April 22, 1755. 

Dorca.s, " October 7. 1754. 

Amasa, '' March 7,' 1757, died July 31, 1758. 

Sarah, " August 15. 1758. 

Joanna, " June 23, 1763. 

Francis, " May 30, 1765. 

Irena, " August 9, 1767, died April 15, 1758. 

Oliver, son of Amasa West, married Thankful Nye, Janu- 
ary 20, 1757. Their children were : 

Ebenezer, born November 23, 17.58. 

Anna, " July 18, 1759, died July 23, 1765. 

Amy, " September 9, 1761. 

Caleb, " July 4, 1764. 

Amasa, '' October 20, 1765. 

Zebulon, fourth son of Dea. Francis West, married Mary 
Delano, of Barnstable, Mass., October 7, 1731. Their chil- 
dren were : 

Mary, born September 17, 1732. 

Stephen, " November 2, 1735. 

Ann, '■ March 19, 1738, died January S, 1775. 

Thaukful, " July 14, 1740, died December 15, 1754. | 

Elijah, " April 6, 1743. 

Mary, wife of Zebulon West, died July 26, 1743. He 
married for his second wife, Mrs. Mary Sluman, February 22, 
1744. Their children were : 

Sarah, bom January 27, 1745, died October 19, 1750. 

Prudence, " February 16, 1747, died August 16, 1748. 

Nathaniel, " t'eptember 5, 1748. 

Jeremiah, " July 20, 1753. 

Desire, " August 18, 1755. 

Buaix, " May 27, 1768. 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 119 

It is probable that Zebulou West came into town with his 
father, Dea. Francis West, about the year 1720. He was 
admitted an inliabitant, that is, a voter, September 21, 1725, 
He was first elected to a public office in the year 1736, and 
from that time to the day of his death, tliirty-four years after- 
wards, he was always in the possession of some place of public 
trust ; and no man could be found who served in more capaci- 
ties, or rendered more acceptable service. He was for seven- 
teen years one of the selectmen of the town ; he was town- 
clerk thirty-four years, and a justice of the peace twenty-six. 
He was the first person ever chosen to represent the town in 
the General Assembly, and represented the town at forty- 
three regular sessions; being first chosen in September, 1748, 
and with one exception was re-elected at every session there- 
after until his decease. He was Speaker of the House of 
Representatives several sessions. He was Judge of Pro- 
bate for the district of Staiford, from its organization, in May, 
1759, to his death. He was also one of the judges of Hart- 
ford County Court, several years. All these ofiices, except 
those of selectman and speaker, and with the addition of 
member of the council or upper house, to wiiich he had just 
been elected, he held at the time of his decease. 

Mr. West was rather above medium size — was exceedingly 
popular with the masses, yet it is said he never associated with 
them nor was familiar in his carriage towards them. His 
personal appearance was imposing, and with his deportment, 
commanded the most profound respect. About twenty-five 
years ago, a venerable lady, then nearly ninety-five years old, 
said to me, she had known Zebulon West very well, and had 
lived near him. She described him as very sedate, inclined 
to talk but little, but was remarkable for his good temper. 
When he went into a place of public resort, all present uncov- 
ered their heads, and conversation ceased. It should be 
remarked, however, that in his day respect was mutual, — that 
the removal of hats in salutation was customary, and that the 
young were carefully taught to be silent and respectful in the 
presence of their seniors. 

In the petty prosecutions for violation of the moral law, 



X 



120 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

SO frequent in those times, Mr. West carefully distinguished 
between youthful thoughtlessness and confirmed depravity ; 
and whenever such prosecutions arose from the disposition to 
annoy or revenge, he took care, as far as possible, to avoid 
making the law instrumental to gratify private malice under 
the mask of public virtue. It used to be said that " Zebulon 
West never did but one wrong thing," — and that was certainly 
a very unfortunate one for the harmony of the town. It Avas 
the procuring by his superior influence the location of the 
meeting-house contrary to the just and strenuous wishes of 
jiearly, if not quite a majority of the inhabitants of the town, 
at a place south of the geographical center. But notwith- 
standing this momentary resentment, he always exercised an 
almost unbounded influence in the management of town 
afifliirs, and was, througli an entire generation, the principal 
man in Tolland. He educated three sons at Yale College ; 
Stephen, the eldest, was a clergyman, settled in the ministry 
at Stockbridgc, Mass., and became one of the most distinguish 
ed theological writers in New England. Nathaniel, the sec- 
ond son, did not study a profession after graduating, but set- 
tled in Tolland as a farmer, was elected town-clerk after the 
death of his father, six years, then emigrated to Vermont. 
Jeremiah, the youngest son, settled as a physician in Tolland. 
He was a surgeon in the revolutionary army, was a represent- 
ative in the General Assembly ten sessions. He was also a 
member of the convention in 1788, and voted for the adoption 
of the federal constitution, and he was justice of the quorum 
or Judge of Tolland County Court fourteen years. 

Zebulon West lived upon the farm lately owned by Bilarky 
Snow, in the south part of Tolland, and died on the 4th day 
of December, 1770, aged 6o. 

NoTK. — The record, so far as I have recited it, exhibits the cliar- 
acter of Zebulon West as nearly faultless, yet when the whole is seen, 
he will appear, to some persons at least, in a light that will throw a 
different shade over this fair picture. Mr. West was a slaveliolder 
and held one of the sable sons of Africa as property. My evidence 
tor this assertion is found in the town's book of records of births, mar- 
riages and deaths, from which the following is copied : " Zebulon 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 121 

West's negro man Rristo, was married to Betty, Molatto woman on ye 
2 1st day of September, A. D. 1757." This record is in the hand- 
writing of Mr. West, and doubtless was made by him when town-clerk. 

The name of this man was Bristo Harris, who lived until April 1, 
1802, and is still recollected by some of the inhabitants of Tolland. 

The darkness of this shade upon the reputation of Mr. West is 
very much relieved, when we recollect that Connecticut tolerated and 
protected slavery by its laws, and that our Puritan fathers saw nothing 
in slaveholding, nor even in the slave-trade itself, inconsistent with 
the Christian character. 

It may here be stated that during the existence of slavery in Con- 
necticut, several families in Tolland were in possession of that species 
of property, and that on the abolition of slavery by law, several slaves 
in Tolland gained tlieir freedom. On the occupation of several 
islands in Narragansett bay by the British, in the revolutionary war, 
two or three families, with their slaves, came to Tolland and remained 
here until the enemy were expelled. 

Pelatiah, son of Deacon Francis West, married Elizabeth 
Lathrop, December 5, 1734. Their children were : 



Elizabeth, boru September 17, 1735. 


Susanna, ' 


March 28, 1737 


Eleazar, ' 


' November 9, 1738. 


Hannah, • 


' Marcti 28, 1741. 


Zerviah, ' 


' August 2, 1743. 


Kunice, ' 


' April 30, 1745. 


Kiijah, ' 


aiart-h 7, 1747. 


Daniel, ' 


' July 22, 1749. 


Prudence, ' 


' June 1, 1751. 


Mary, 


June 28, 1753. 



Eleazar, son of Pelatiah West, married OUvo Redington, 
December 6, 1761. Their children ; Charles, born October 
4, 1763 ; Thankful, born November 20, 1765. 

Christopher, son of Dea. Francis West, married Amy, 
daughter of Jonathan Delano, October 25, 1732. Their 
children were : 

Priscilla, bom August 23, 1733. 

Francis, '' October 30, 1735. 

Jonathan, " Decembei 30, 1737. 

.Jerusha, " April 27, 1740. 

Miner, '' January 9, 1743. 

Lois, " in Coventry. 

Mary, " May 25, 1750. 

Soloinon West, from Lebanon, married Abigail Strong, of 
Lebanon, October 10, 1743. Their children were : 

Solomon, born Augu.st 23, 1744. 

Ruby, " August, 1747. 

Abigail, " December 19, 1748. 

Lydia, " March 5, 1752, died October28, 1772. 

Esther, " March 17, 1754. 

Chloe, " April 14, 1756. 

Stephen, " August 19, 1769. 

Jeruaba., '' Juijo 6, 17<J3 

16 



122 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

EiiJ^i.LL'ii Solomon West died August 21, 1810; Abigail, his 
wife, August 12, 1807. 

Solomon, son of Solomon West, married Piudencc La- 
tliroj), March 22, 1770. Solomon, their son, born July 26, 

1770, died August 21, 1771. 

Prudence, wile of Solomon West, Jr., died November 30, 

1771. His second wife was Catherine Carjienter; they were 
married Feltruary 21), 177*3. Their children were: 

Jos.se, born Dcoeniber 25, 1776. 

Prudence, '• Ajiril 2. 1778 

Swvia, " Novell. bcr 20, 1780. 

li'ubv. " DeceUiber 19. 1781. 

Ebeuezer, " April 13, 1783. 

Solomon W'est died June 8, 1822, aged seventy-seven 
years. 

John West came from Lebanon : Dorothy, his daughter, 
born October 1, 1751; Rebecca, born April 7, 1755. 

Moses West married Jemima Eaton, August 18, 1751 : 
Dura, born January 23, 1752 ; Lana, born January 9, 1754; 
Alice, born September 7, 1757. 

The children of Caleb West, whose parentage is not ascer- 
tained, are : 

Hannah, born AuRu.^t 8, 1749. 

C.ileb. •' .)aiiuir\ 22. 1751. 

Ira, " June 26, 17u2. 

Jonathan, " June 20. 1754. 

Roger, " Juh 1, 1755. 

Irene, " , died November, 1763. 

Susanna, " 

Priscilla, " November 25, 17G3. 

Kitty, " March 20, 1768 

Ira, son of Caleb West, married , only daughter of 

Col. Samuel Chapman. 

Ephraim Grant, one of the town-clerks of Tolland. I have 
spoken of in my address on the county organization. I here 
only trace his genealogy. 

Noah Grant, of Windsor, w\as one of the petitioners for a 
new township, in the year 1713, and was one of the grantees 
in the first deed to the proprietors of Tolland. He came to 
Tolland before 1720, and settled on what is now called 
Grant's Hill. He married Martha Huntington, June 12, 
1717. Tlieir children were : 



Noah, born July 12, 1718, died October 16, 1727. \n^io 

Adnniratn, " February 2i, 1721. ' 

Soiouion, '' January 2U, 1723. 

Martha, " June U, 17^6 

One Noah Graut married Susauua, daugjiter of Jonathan 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 123 

Delano, November 5, 1746, and had one son, Xoah, burn 
June 20, 1748. 

Noah Grant, on tlie first day of January, 1720, deeded a tract 
of land in Tolland to his brother, Ephraim Grant, of Windsor. 

Ephraim Grant married Elizabeth Cady, August 22, 1723. 
Their children were : Grace, born January 14, 1724 ; Eph- 
raim, born April 27, 1726. 

Elizabetli, wife of Ephraim Grant, (Jied November 8, 1746. 
He married for his second wife, Esther Ladd, of Coventry, 
(widow,) September 24, 1747. Their children were : 

Eliza, born June 25, 1748. 

Esther, " March 5, 1750. 

Kli>ha, '> JIaroh 24, 1762. 

Eunice, " April 5, 1754. 

Ebenezer, " August 2, 1756. 

Ephraim Grant, Jun., son of Ephraim and Elizabeth Grant, 
married Mary, daugliter of Hon. Zebulon West, December 
13, 1748. Their children were : 

Ephraim, born April 6, 1750. (Town clerk.) 

Prudence, " September 19, 17.52, died October 4, 1760. 

Eliag, " April 7, 1755, died October2, 17t'0. 

I'hilip. " Mav 30, 1757, died September 2G, 1760. 

Solomon, " March 21. 1760. 

Mary, " August 22, 1762. 

Ann, " January 30, 1765. 

Grace, " Januarv 16. 1767. 

Stephen, " March 9. 1770. 

William, " October 24. 1773 

Zebulon, " December 9, 1776. 

Ebenezer, son of Ephraim and Esther Grant, married Phebe 
Edgerton for his first wife, April 22, 1779. She died Sep- 
tember 29, 1780. She had one child, Oliver, born 1779, died 
in 1794. He married Juliana Pearce, January 29, 1782. 
She died December 17, 1783, Ebenezer Grant married for 
his third wife, Edna, daughter of Hope Lathrop, December 
23, 1784. Their children were : 

Juliana, born November 16. 1784. 

Phebe, '• Au;;ust 5, 1787. 

Harry, " .luly 2, 1789. 

Edna, " August 1 1791. 

Ebenezer, " June 16, 1793. 

Oliver, " January 31, 17'J5. 

The Grant family is now represented in Tolland by Mrs. 
Levi Edgerton, George M. Grant, and Edwin Lathrop Grant, 
with their families. These persons can trace their descent 
from the first settlers as well by the Lathrops as Grants, they 
being lineal descendants of Hope Lathrop. 

Samuel Ladd was town-clerk of Tolland six years, He 



124 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

was a descendant of Jonathan Ladd, who, before 1720, was 
an inhabitant of Norwich, Conn. Tradition says he first 
came to Tolland in 1719 ; but it is certain he took a deed of 
Nathaniel Wallis, of Windham, of three pieces of land, 
dated February 11, 1720, which lands were situated in Tol- 
land. In this deed he is described as of Norwich, in the 
county of New London. Jonathan Ladd married Susannah 
Kingsbury, of Norvrich, December 28, 1713. Their children 
were : 

Ezekiel, born January 31. 1715. 

Elizabeth, "' Marcli 14. 1713 

Jonathan, " March 5. 1718 

Mary, " February 6, 1720. 

Susanna, " February 17, 1722. 

j;phrniEi, " January 30, 1725. 

Abigiil, " March 26, 1728. 

Zuriah, " JIarcb 30, 1730. 

Jesse, " April 10. 1732. 

Samuel, " March 29, 173i, died December 24, 17-36. 

Ezekiel, oldest son of Jonathan Ladd, Sen., married Han- 
nah Bigelow, November 3, 1740. Their children were : 

Lucy, born May 1, 1741. 

Sauiuel, '• Juiie 7, 1742. 

Ruth, " January 12, 1744, died September 3, 1706. 

Hanr.ah, " September G, 1745. 

Daniel, '' April 9, 1747. 

Ephraim, " May 11, 1749. 

Elizabeth, " April 28. 1751. 

Blisha, *' March 7, 1753, died December 26, 1841, at Wilbraham. 

Ezekiel, '* Jlay 1, 1755. 

I>avid, " July 27, 1757. 

Lvdia, • " July 3, 1761. 

Eunice, " March 13, 1764, died in infancy. 

Jonathan Ladd, Jr., married Anna Tyler, June 27, 1751. 
Their children were : 

Anna. born August 27, 1752. 

Eiiab, " April 21, 1754. 

Ahijah, '" February 27, 1756. 

John, " April 3, 175'^. 

Sarah, " April 27, 1760. 

Jonathan, '' June 15, 1762, ) ^^- ^^^^ August 21, 1762 

Anna, " June 16, 1(62, ) ^ ' 

Jonathan, " M.irch 20, 1764. 

Ruth, " March 30, 1767. 

Jonathan Ladd, Jr., died August 27, 1810. His wife, 
Anna, died August 19, 1808. 

Eliab Ladd, son of Jonathan Ladd, Jr., married Susalla, 
daughter of John Lathrop, Jr., January 14, 1779. The 
following is their record : 

Joseph, born October 22, 1779, died in infancy 

Luther, "' December 20, 1780, died in infancy. 

Ariel, " February 9. 17S3. 

Stephen, " Norember 8, 1784. 

Lura, " October 30, 1786, died May 22, 1810. 

Roxy, " September 8, 1788, died in infancy. 

Rosy, " January 29, 1790, died in infancy. 

PrsBinda., " September 9, 1791. 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 125 

Eliab Ladd died December 15, 1800. 

Ahijah, son of Jonathan Ladd, Jr., married Huldah Ful- 
ler, of Hebron, February 2, 1785. Their children were : 

Lois, born NovenibtT 18. 1785, died Mav 25, 1787. 

Ahijah, " Februarv 2n, 1787, died June 2, 1787. 

Ahijah, " August 15, 1788 

1-evi, " December 20, 1790. 

Joel, " iMar.h 8, 1793. 

Ezra, " Februarv 2-3, 1795, died February 4, 1810. 

Alvan, " Way 17,1797. 

Huldah, " ?eptember 2r>. 1799. in Ellington. 

Daniel, " Juae 28, 1804, died February 9, 1807. 

Ahijah Ladd died April 15, 1826, aged 70 ; Huldah, his 
wife, November 20, 1834, aged 72. 

John, son of Jonathan Ladd, Jr., married Esther Wood, 
of Somers, December 11, 1783. Their children were : 

Esther, born September 15, 1784. 

Luther, '• MaylO, 178fi. 

Kunice, " June 2!i, 1788. 

Also, John, Maria, Laura, Lois, Lathrop and Eliab. 

Samuel, son of Ezekiel and grandson of Jonathan Ladd, 
Sen., married Margaret, daugliter of Capt. Samuel Chap- 
man, Sen., April 28, 1768. Their children were : 



Ruth. 


born 


January 18. 1769, in East Windsor. 


Samuel, 




May 11", 1770 Towu-clerk. 


Margaret, 




October 8, 1772. 


Mary, 




November 2S, 1775. 


Wareham, 




April 23. 1778. 


Jacob, 




December 14, 1781. 



Capt. Samuel Ladd died May 18, 1814. His wife, Marga- 
ret, died February 4, 1813. 

Ahijah Ladd, Jr., son of Ahijah Ladd and grandson of 
Jonathan Ladd, Sen., married Almy Cobb, daughter of 
William Cobb, and granddaughter of Doct. Samuel Cobb, 
January 20, 1818. They had three sons, viz. : William 
Cobb, born March 26, 1820 ; Charles Ahijah, born March 
12, 1822 ; and Theodore Stearns, born September 4, 1826. 

Mr. Ladd had no opportunity for obtaining an education, 
other than was afforded by the common schools of liis day, 
but by the closest application to these advantages, he obtained 
an unusually fair education for practical purposes. He early 
indicated an aptness for the duties of the sick room ; tlie rep- 
utation of his skill as a nurse, probably induced him to 
study medicine. He accordiugly entered tlie office of Doct. 
Judah Bliss, with whom he continued until receiving a license 
to practice in 1818, when he established himself in Tolland, 
where, with the exception of two years residence iji Statford, 



126 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

he remained until his decease, July 17, 1855, at the age of 
sixty-seven years. 

Doct. Ladd always had a respectable practice ; in one or 
two brandies he was decidedly superior ; was reasonable in 
his charges, and very indulgent to his customers. He main- 
tained a respectable position in society, and was a very useful 
man. He exercised a most wholesome influence in the circle 
in which he moved ; always on the side of good order and 
strict morality ; discountenancing all improprieties and im- 
moral conduct ; possessing all the qualities that characterize 
the good neighbor ; and without exhibiting any disposition to 
complain or wrangle when otliers were more successful than 
himself. Conservative in all his actions and modes of thought, 
he seldom if ever took ultra ground on any subject, and 
avoided all angry and unprofitable disputi^tions. With a kind 
heart and honest purposes, seeking to do right himself rather 
than to compel others to act according to his views and con- 
trary to their own, he secured many friends and was gener- 
ally esteemed. 

Samuel Kent is one of th.e town-clerks who has passed 
away ; I may therefore be indulged in a few words respecting 
him. He was born in Suffield, Conn., November 27, 1786 ; 
was educated as a farmer, and at one^ period of his life was 
very successful in the application of his practical knowledge 
of that business. He occupied a portion of the farm now in 
the possession of William West, on which he made many sub- 
stantial improvements. He married Melicent Wills Steel, 
daughter of Capt. Ashbel Steel, March 3, 1812 ; and after 
residing two years in Sufneld, commenced mercantile busi- 
ness in Tolland with Doct. Ahijali Ladd ; after the discontin- 
uance of which, and in June, 1819, he was appointed Deputy 
Sheriff for Tolland County, which ofRce he held by successive 
triennial re-appointments until October, 1835 — a period of 
sixteen years, when he resigned on account of ill-health. He 
continued to reside in Tolland, (with the exception of a six 
years residence in Fair Haven, from 1839 to 1845,) where he 
remained until his decease, May 28, 1854, in the sixty-eighth 
year of his age. 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 127 

He was two years selectman of Tolland, and on his re-elec- 
tion the tliird year, declined to serve longer. He was two 
years towji-clerk, nearly seventeen years deputy sheriff, and 
nine years county jailer and keeper of the county house. Mr. 
Kent discharged the duties of these offices with great credit 
to himself, and to the entire satisfaction of the puhlic. As 
an executive officer ho could not be excelled, and was very 
rarely equaled. He had great energy, which impelled him 
to do his duty promptly ; and a sympathy which invariably 
inclined him to leniency towards the poor and unfortunate. 
Sometimes, indeed, he was far too indulgent for his own inter- 
est, and at the commencement of his official life suffered an 
embarrassing loss by indulgence to an unworthy debtor. But 
it was one of Mr. Kent's peculiarities to meet misfortunes 
cheerfully ; he never complained so long as he had physical 
strength to carry the burden ; nor did he ever attempt to avoid 
any responsibility, which either the law or honor cast upon 
him. He was reasonably successful in business, until his health 
became so much impaired he was compelled to relinquish the 
ordinary labors of life. He was attacked with a lameness, 
ultimately extending to the spine, which continued, some- 
times attended with great pain, until his death. 

In stature, Mr. Kent was about five feet ten inches in height, 
rather spare habit ; strait and firm in his carriage ; quick and 
active in his movements. He was a kind and ol;liging neigh- 
bor ; social and pleasant in his intercourse ; honest and up- 
right in his dealings ; and ardent and sincere in his personal 
attachments. He deserved and received the respect and con- 
fidence of his acquaintance. He left two children : Eliza- 
beth Sophronia, born September 18, 1817, and James Steel, 
born July 24, 1819. 

GuRDON IsHAM is onc of the town-clerks whose last record 
is made. He was the son of James Isham, of Ellington, who 
moved into Tolland in the Spring of the year 17Ui). Asher 
Isham, brother of James, bought a tract of Land in Tulland, 
of Lathrop Birge, April 10, 1793, which he sold to James 
Isham, March 1, 1796, James Isham, of Tolland, married 



128 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

Polly Kingsley, of Lebanon, at Lebanon, April 20, 1796. 
Their children were : 

Oliver Kingsley, born March 26, 1797. Physician in Tolland. 

Gurdon, " December 10, 1800, Town-clerk, died February 7, 1857. 

Shubnel, " 1-Vbruarv 27, 1801, died Julv 22, 1825. 

Mary, " July 15, 1806, married J. Latlirop, died May 2, 1838. 

Gurdon Isham was apprenticed to the business of hatting, 
which he followed through life. He married Abigail Strong, 
of Columbia, January, 1824. Their children were : 

Abigail, born November 17, 1S24. 



Shubael S., 
Chester C, 
David B , 
Abby Jane, 
Harriet A., 



January IC, 1827. 

March 18, 1828, died April 4, 1328. 

Jlay 5, 1830. 

April 13, 1833. 

March 19, 1843, died April 7, 1854. 



Mr. Ibham was captain of the militia company in Tolland 
when he was but twenty-five years old ; was several years 
pounty treasurer, and between two and three years town-clerk, 
which office he held at the time of his death. He united with 
the Methodist church in 1831 ; was a most exemplary and 
useful member during life, entering into the subject of relig- 
ion with his whole heart, and there are few whose lives are 
more in conformity with their profession. Honest and consci- 
entious, never seeking popular applause, he was useful in his 
place ; those who knew him best will kindly remember him. 



John Abbott, of Andover, Essex Co., Mass., removed to 
Tolland in the year 1720, and purchased the place now owned 
by James A. Brown, where he lived sixty years. It is said he 
never failed to attend meeting a single Sabbath until the year 
of his death, and he usually went on foot. As he was going to 
meeting one Sunday, he discovered a bear on a chestnut tree, 
by the side of the road, opposite the house lately occupied by 
Capt. H. Cogswell, and called out, a bear ! a bear ! fetch a 
gun, in a voice tliat echoed through the forests and was dis- 
tinctly heard by persons on their way to meeting, a mile north 
of tlie meeting-house. A gun was brought and the bear 
despatched. Persons now living recollect this circumstance. 
He died November 25, 1789. 

This John Abbott had a son John, who married Elizabeth, 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 129 

daughter of John Stearns, January 21, 1748. John Ahhott, 
Jr., was born September 18, 1725, and died May 17, 1776. 
Elizabeth, his wile, died January G, 1783. Their children 
were : 

Nehemiah, born Decemher 21, 1748, died August 24, 1751 

JoUn, " July 30. 17.00 

Nehemiah. " August 23, 1752, died September 23, 1776. 

Jehiel, " June 2, 1755, died April 13, 1776. 

Sarah, " August 28, 1757. 

Abiel, " August 16, 1760. 

Elizabeth, " August 12, 1763. 

Er.astus, " April 5,176-. 

Alexander, " April 8, 1771. 

John, son of John and Elizabeth Abbott, married Temper- 
ance Baker, April 20, 1780. Their children were : 

Sally, born AprU 29, 1781. 

Polly, " March 29, 1784. 

John, " April 2, 1786. 

Elizabeth, •• October 18, 1788. 

Jehiel, •' September 3, 1795. 

John Bliss, Esq., married Sally, daughter of John and Tem- 
perance Abbott, May 80, 1809. Their children were : 

Sarah Olivia, born August 22. 1810. 

Mary Eliza, '• May 21, 1812. 

Sylvester, " June 29, 1814. 

Emeline Eliza, " April 11, 1816. 

The representatives of the Abbott family now in Tolland, 
are Doct. Lucius Abbott, Mrs. George Tryon, Mrs. Lucius S. 
Fuller, and their descendants. 

Ebenezer Nye was one of the first settlers of Tolland, 
He probably came into town before the year 1718, as his name 
is on the petition to the General Assembly, dated May, 1718, 
respecting the Coventry lands. There is some evidence tend- 
ing to show that he came from Dartmouth, Bristol County, 
Mass. He had land allotted to him in Jan., 1721, Nov., 1722, 
March, 1723, and at other times. He also purchased lands of 
others. Some of his land was bounded east on Willimantic 
river, and is evidently the farm now owned by William Hol- 
man, Esq. Ebenezer Nye married Sarah Newcomb, Jan. 13, 
1720. Their children were : 

Elizabeth, born December 14. 1720. 

John, " November 27, 1722. 

Sarah, " August 9, 1724, died August 17, 1731. 

Ebenezer, " May 14, 1726, died February 2, 1727. 

Benjamin, " MaV 13, 1728. 

Eunice, " February 15. 1730. 

Lois, " May 25, 17.32. 

Malatiah, " April 21, 1734. 

Thankful, " August 2, 1736. 

Samuel, " July 20, 1738. 

Sylvia, " August 21, 1740. 

17 



130 THE EARLY HISTORY OF TOLLAND. 

Samuel, son of Ebenezer and Sarah Nye, married Abigail, 
daughter of Timothy Benton, May 30, 1765. Their children 
were : 

Hezekiah, born Aprilll, 1766, died March 9, 1850. 

Samuel, " Dot-ember 26, 1767, died March 23, 1771. 

Abigail, " May 10, 1770. 

Susanna, " January 14, 1772. 

Samuel, " December 25, 1773. 

Bathsheba, " October 9, 1776. 

Joseph, " November 2, 1779. 

Hezekiah, son of Ebenezer Nye, Jr., married Asenath Buell, 
Nov. 11, 178-4. Their children were: 

Abel, born January 29, 17S5. 

Elizur, " April 23. 1786. 

Jeduthan, " February 21, 1788. 

Buell, " March 7, 1790. 

Anne, " December 24, 1791, died February 21, 1817. 

John Hyde, " April 8, 1793. 

Marvin, " March 26, 1795 

S.arah, " October 12, 1798, died March 13, 1819. 

Austin, " March 26, 1800, died June 3, 1817. 

Asenath, " February 12, 1804. 

Asenath, daughter of Hezekiah Nye, married James Spar- 
row. Their children were, Emeline, born Sept. 11, 1825; 
George E., born Oct. 22, 1826 ; John, born Marcli 28, 1834. 

Samuel, son of Samuel and Abigail Nye, married Elizabeth 
Merrick, of WiUington, April 21, 1800. Their children 
were : 

Harriet, boru August 15, 1801. 

Horace, " August 22, 1803. 

Susanna, " February 16, 1805, died February 7, 1828. 

Anna, " August 12, 1810, married William Holman, March 26, 1833. 

The Nye family is now represented in Tolland by George 
Sparrow and his children, descendants of Hezekiah Nye ; and 
by Mrs. William Holman and her children, descendants of 
Samuel Nye. It is here worthy of notice that the farm, on 
which Mr, Holman and family now reside, was a portion of 
the land allotted to Ebenezer Nye in 1721 and 1722, and has, 
as far as can be ascertained, always been owned by him or his 
descendants. Ebenezer Nye was a member of the House of 
Representatives one session, and selectman thirteen years. 
Hezekiah Nye, his grandson, was a representative three ses- 
sions, and a selectman three years. 

Samuel Aborn, of Lynn, Essex Co., Mass., took a deed of 
Nathaniel Wallis, dated March 17, 1724, conveying a tract of 
land in the north part of Tolland, upon the Hockanum, of 
about ninety-six acres. This tract is the farm lately owned by 



THE EARLY HISTORY OP TOLLAND. 131 

Parkel Aborn, now owned by Mr. Loveland. I can 

not ascertain when Samuel Aborn, the first grantee, came into 
Tolland. The first record of any birth, marriage or deatli in 
the family is the record of the marriage of Samuel Aborn, of 
Tolland, to Mary Ingham, of Hebron, Nov. 7, 1753. The fol- 
lowing were their children : 

Martha, born August 19, 1754. 

Samuel, " March 23, 1756. 

Mary, " February 19, 1758, died in infancy. 

Mary, " July 5, 17.59. 

John, " June 23, 1761. 

Dorcas, " March 31, 1763. 

Elizabeth, " M,av 20, 1765. 

Ruth, " September 3, 1767. 

Reuben, " March 6, 1772. 

Samuel, son of Samuel and Mary Aborn, married Dorothy 
Post, of Hebron, Dec. 26, 1782. Their children were: 

Samuel, born December 8, 1783. 

Jedediah, " July 12, 1787. 

Roxy, " October 17. 1791. 

Hiram, " November 26, 1793. 

Dorothy, " February 15, 1797, died June 15, 1822. 

Mary, " October 28. 1798. 

Ruth, " October 6, 1801. 

Samuel Aborn was a veteran revolutionary soldier, that is 
to say, he was in the continental service not less than three 
years, in terms of not less than nine months each, which enti- 
tled him to a full pension, or ninety-sis dollars a year. He 
died March 11, 1827 ; his wife Dec. 9, 1834. 

John, son of Samuel and Mary Aborn, married Sarah Rus- 
sell, of Ellington, June 28, 1796. Their children were: 

Sally, bom July 1, 1797. 

Laura, " January 7, 1799, married Chester Dart. 

John G., " July 21, 1800. 

Hannah, " January 21, 1802, married AWin Kibbe, 2d. 

Dan, " October 20, 1803. 

Reuben, " May 9. 1805. 

Lucius, " October 13, 1806. 

Parkil, " June 2], 1809. 

Madison, " March 28. 1811. 

Morton, " November 28, 1812. 

Maria. '' married Allen. 

John Aborn, died April 19, 1829. 

The representatives of the Aborn family, now in Tolland, 
are Samuel Aborn, Jedediah Aborn and descendants, Parkil 
Aborn and family, the children and grandchildren of Chester 
Dart, and Mrs. Alvin Kibbe, 2d, and family. 

Samuel Paulk was one of the fifty-one grantees in the 
deed of the first proprietors of the town. His name is not on 
any of the petitions of the first settlers, but there is a family- 



132 THE EARLY HISTORY OP TOLLAND. 

record sliowing that lio was one of tlie earliest inhabitants of 
Tolhmd. Samuel Paulk was married to Sarah Slafter, May 
6, 1720, and the birth and death of their first child was on 
the 6th day of Feb., 1721. This purports to be a record of 
his marriage, "and the birth and death of his child in Tol- 
land," <fec. He had other children, viz. : 

Mary, born February 8, 1723. 

Ruth, " February -JS, 1727. 

Noah, " October"31, 172'.). 

Sarah, " January 31, 1732. 

Abigail, " November 1.5, 1734. 

Samuel, " April 3. 1737. 

John, " November 30, 1742. 

Widow Sarah Paulk died May 3, 1744. 

Samuel Paulk had an allotment of land made to him May 
18, 1719, also January 12, 1721. On the 24th day of Decem- 
ber, 1722, he conveyed a tract of land situated near Skuug- 
amug river, to John Paulk of said Tolland ; but I am unable 
to say whether there was any relationship between Samuel 
and John Paulk. 

John Paulk married Keziah Benton, December 22, 1736. 
Their children were : 

Dinah, born April 10, 1738, died March 6, 1747. 

Jolm, '■ February 7, 1740. 

Lydia, " May 22, 1742. 

Keziah, " October 10, 1744. 

' IJuhamah, " January, 1746, died February 10, 1750. 

David, " March 24, 1749. 

Mpbraim, " December 1, 1751. 

Ammi, '• April 27, 1756.; 

Jemima, " June 28, 1759. - 

David, son of John and Keziah Paulk, married Margaret, 
daughter of Ichabod Stimson, February 29, 1776. His chil- 
dren were, Lois, born in Tolland, January 24, 1777, and 
others born in Vermont, where he removed, but died in 
Tolland, February 10, 1824. 

Ephraim, son of John and Keziah Paulk, married Eunice 
Harvey, June 25, 1778. Their children were : 

Grace, born October 31, 1780. 

Ephraim, '• April 12, 1784. 

Eliakim, '* July 27, 1787. 

Eunice, " February 23, 1790. 

Elisha, " January 20, 1793. 

Eliakim, son of Ephraim and Eunice Paulk, married Sally 
Craw, December 12, 1816. Their children were : 

Laura, bom January 9, 1818. 

Geurge M., " February 8, 1820. 

Julius, " June 28, 1822, died August 22, 1825. 

James, " March 19, 1825. 

Sarah, " March 19, 1827, died July 31, 1827. 

Julius A., " August 16, 1828. 

Edwin, " February 4, 1^2, died July 11, 1833 



THE EARLY HISTORY OP TOLLAND. 133 

Ammi, son of Ephraim and Keziah Paulk, married Esther, 
daughter of Dea. Elijah Cliapraan and granddaughter of Rev. 
Stephen Steel, June G, 1782. Their children were : 

Aurelia, born December 24, 1782. 

Jeduthan, " April 18, 1785. 

Keziah, " i?cpteniber 21, 1786. 

Esther, " June 12. 1791 

I'ydia, " February 11, 1794. 

Asenath, " January 8, 1797, married Oliver Grant. 

Ammi, " July 1, 1799, died January 15, 1807. 

Erastus, " May 30, 1802. 

Capt. Ammi Paulk was a veteran soldier of the revolution ; 
died March, 1843. 

Jeduthan, son of Ammi and Esther Paulk, married Eunice 
Anna Cogswell, January 23, 1812. His children were Na- 
than L., born February 12, 1813 ; George A., born October 
27, 1814. Jeduthan Paulk died October 4, 1830. 

In connecting the line of the Whiton with the Paulk fam- 
ily, it may be stated that Elijah Whiton, the ancestor of the 
former family, married Anna Brown, they both being of Ash- 
ford, January 3, 1771, and soon removed to Tolland. He 
took a deed of land of Jonathan Hatch, September 30, 1775, 
in which he Avas described as of Tolland. His children were : 

Matilda, born May 29, 1772. 

Martha, " February 29, 1776. 

Anna, " April 6, 1778. 

Vodicea, " August 9, 1780. 

Hannah, " January 26. 1783. 

Elijah, " July 5, 1785, married Keziah Paulk. 

Sybil, " February 8. 1788, died February 28, 1790. 

Maria, " October 16, 1790. 

Stephen, • " April 7, 1794. 

Elijah Whiton, Sen., died May 5, 1804. 

Elijah, son of Elijah and Anna Whiton, married Keziah, 
daughter of Capt. Ammi Paulk, March 23, 1808. Their 
children were : 

Ammi, - born April 3, 1809, died July 7, 1836. 

Maria, " May 19, 1811, married D. Mathewson and died. 

Elijah, " March 4, 1813 

Luther, " January 20, 1816. 

Calvin, " February 18, 1818. 

Stephen, " March 19, 1820. 

Marcia, " May 14, 1822, died February 11, 1824. 

Erastus, " May 18, 1824. 

Jonathan Paulk, who accompanied Shubael Stearns to 
North Carolina, had the following children recorded in Tol- 
land : 

Esther, born November 7, 1731. 

Micajah '' October 7, 1733. 

Kuth, " March 18, 1736. 

Zechariah, " March 4, 1738, died in infancy. 



134 THE EARLY HISTORY OP TOLLAND. 

The representatives of the Paulk family, now in Tolland, 
are Miss Eunice Paulk, Mrs. Joseph A. Dresser and child, 
Messrs. Calvin and Stephen Whiton, 2d, and their children, 
and Messrs. George M. and Edwin L. Grant, with their chil- 
dren. 

The name of Loomis is often found upon the early records 
of the town. Enoch Loomis, Moses Loomis and Joshua 
Loomis are all grantees in the deed to the first proprietors. 
They were evidently residents of Windsor. Joshua Loomis 
signed the petitions of May, 1716, and May, 1718. Land 
was allotted to him in March and June, 1721. Hezekiah 
Loomis received an allotment of land, September, 1720, and 
June, 1721. He was a resident of Windsor in July, 1720, 
but was a resident of Tolland June 12, 1724. 

Solomon Loomis, of Windsor, received a conveyance of 
land in Tolland from Samuel Cook, of Tolland, June 1, 1724. 
Solomon Loomis -married Abigail Strong, of Windsor, June 
28, 1727. Their children were : 

Abigail, bom April 18, 1728. 

Solomon, " November 4, 1732. 

Anna, " March '2Q. 1735. 

Esther, " July 8, 1738, died Junel7, 1751. 

Solomon, son of Solomon and Abigail Loomis, married 
Mary, daughter of Capt. Samuel Chapman. Their children 
were : 

Simon, born March 7, 1758. 

Solomon, " September 27, 1760. 

Luke, " April 11,1764, died in infancy. 

Nathaniel, " January 5, 1766. 

Epaphras, " September 20, 1768. 

Mary, wife of Solomon Loomis, died February 11, 1774, 
aged forty-two. Solomon Loomis married for his second 
wife, Mary Johnson, of Stafford, December 21, 1775. Their 
children were : 

Jeduthan, bom Norember 10, 1777. 

Elisha, " January 27, 1779. 

Mary, " November 5, 1780. 

Justin, " July 10, 1783. 

Ralph, " February 28, 1785. 

Kuth, " April 11, 1787. 

Epaphras, son of Solomon and Mary Loomis, married Abi- 
gail Grover, Nov. 27, 1794. Their children were : 

Almon, born October 3, 1804. died March 6, 1818. 

Elmer, " February 7, 1810. 

Elmer Loomis lived and died on the farm of his ancestors, 



